Australia's smallest nocturnal bird lives in the same patch of woodland for most of its (cautious) life.
Description: Female Owlet-nightjars are reddish-brown or grey. Males are grey. Both have faint black bars and two distinct black marks above their eyes.
Diet: Owlet-nightjars are insectivores and eat a variety of insects, either during flight or on the ground.
In the wild: They are harder to find with a torch or spotlight than most of Australia’s other nocturnal birds because their large brown eyes do not reflect the light. They are also very small. In fact, the Owlet-nightjar is Australia’s smallest nocturnal bird.
Threats: Habitat destruction is a threat to Owlet-nightjars as fewer trees mean fewer places for them to raise their young.
Did you Know?
Both Owlet-nightjar parents incubate eggs in the nest and feed newborn chicks.