Nightjars of the World

The definitive guide to nightjars, a beautiful and charismatic nocturnal group

Usually appearing in the fading light of dusk and vanishing again before sunrise, nightjars are a charismatic group of predominantly nocturnal birds. While some species have developed spectacular tails and wing adornments, the majority are fairly uniform in appearance; subtle browns, oranges and greys make them masters of camouflage among the leaf-litter where they generally nest and roost in the daytime, with these colour schemes providing birders with a stern identification challenge in the field.

The culmination of more than 50 years of study by the world’s leading expert on these birds, Nigel Cleere, Nightjars of the World features detailed text covering their taxonomy, physiology, plumage and moult, foraging, migration and breeding biology. The species accounts are accompanied by accurate distribution maps, and a comprehensive photographic selection encompasses as much subspecific, sexual and age-related variation as possible. A series of illustrated plates by Dave Nurney depicts every species in exceptional detail.

Meticulously researched, this book represents the ultimate resource on nightjars and their relationships, appearance, identification and biology, bringing these beautiful night-birds out of the dark and into the spotlight.

Author Biography

Nigel Cleere has been fascinated by nightjars for more than 60 years, travelling widely to study species in Europe, North and South America, Africa and the Middle East. He worked extensively for the Natural History Museum Bird Group and has examined specimens of all nightjar taxa, including type material, eggs and skeletons, and much of the published work and original descriptions. He is the author or co-author of numerous papers and books about nightjar ecology, taxonomy and nomenclature.