Have you ever heard of a nightjar? These birds are pretty special. They're nocturnal, which means they're awake at night when most other birds are sleeping. During the day, they rest on tree branches and their feathers look so much like bark that you'd never spot them!
Nightjars have some cool adaptations for their night-time lifestyle. Their eyes are enormous, which helps them see in the dark. They've also got a massive mouth that's perfect for snatching up moths and other insects as they fly.
You're more likely to hear a nightjar than see one. The males make a really odd sound - it's like a long, mechanical churring that can go on for ages without stopping. It's quite creepy if you don't know what it is!
These birds spend their summers in places like the UK, then fly all the way to Africa for the winter. Sadly, there aren't as many nightjars as there used to be. This is probably because there are fewer insects for them to eat, and they're losing the heathland areas where they like to nest.
Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/nightjar/
Nightjars have some cool adaptations for their night-time lifestyle. Their eyes are enormous, which helps them see in the dark. They've also got a massive mouth that's perfect for snatching up moths and other insects as they fly.
You're more likely to hear a nightjar than see one. The males make a really odd sound - it's like a long, mechanical churring that can go on for ages without stopping. It's quite creepy if you don't know what it is!
These birds spend their summers in places like the UK, then fly all the way to Africa for the winter. Sadly, there aren't as many nightjars as there used to be. This is probably because there are fewer insects for them to eat, and they're losing the heathland areas where they like to nest.
Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/nightjar/
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Animals