Jungle Nightjar

A denizen of open forest, forest edges, and rocky hillsides across South and East Asia, this nightjar roosts motionless on the ground or along horizontal branches by day, relying almost entirely on its cryptic bark-brown plumage for concealment. At dusk and dawn, listen for its distinctive repetitive churring or hollow whistled calls carrying across clearings and woodland margins, and watch for its buoyant, silent flight as it hawks insects low over open ground. The best chance of observation comes during warm months when insect activity peaks, by scanning roadsides and forest tracks at last light with a torch, looking for the eyeshine — a vivid orange-red glow — or listening for the persistent nocturnal calling that often continues well into the night.