The nightjar is rarely seen because it is nocturnal and also because its plumage makes it very hard to spot. It is red-listed due to declines in the breeding population. The European population is considered depleted.

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Only a handful of pairs breed in Ireland, usually on recently planted conifer plantations or clearfells in upland areas. The nightjar feeds on insects caught in flight.

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Image (c) by Nigel Voaden used under Creative Commons License BY-SA 2.0.