Australian Owlet-nightjar

The Australian Owlet-nightjar is a small, delicate nocturnal bird with soft, finely mottled grey-brown plumage, a rounded head, and large, dark eyes suited to night vision. Fine bristle-like feathers around the bill give it a whiskered appearance, and a dark stripe often runs down the center of the crown. Despite its name and superficially owl-like face, it is more closely related to nightjars and frogmouths than to true owls.

During the day it typically roosts in a tree hollow, sometimes poking its head out of the entrance to survey its surroundings if disturbed, a habit that gives birdwatchers one of the best chances of spotting this otherwise elusive, strictly nocturnal species.

Key field marks

• Small size with soft, finely mottled grey-brown plumage
• Large, dark eyes and a rounded, owl-like face
• Fine bristles around the bill giving a whiskered appearance
• Habit of peering out from a tree hollow entrance during the day

Similar species

• Tawny Frogmouth is much larger and roosts in the open on branches rather than in hollows.
• True owls have strongly hooked bills and talons and lack the whiskered, softer-faced appearance of the owlet-nightjar.

Habitat

Inhabits open woodland and forest with mature trees offering hollows for daytime roosting and nesting.

Range

Found throughout mainland Australia, including arid and semi-arid regions, wherever suitable tree hollows occur.

Migration

Sedentary and territorial, generally remaining within a fixed home range year-round.

Behavior

Strictly nocturnal, spending the day roosting inside a tree hollow and emerging at dusk to hunt; agile in flight, catching prey both on the wing and by dropping onto it from a perch.

Voice

A distinctive, repeated, harsh churring or chattering call given at night, quite unlike the calls of true owls.

Feeding

Feeds mainly on insects and other small invertebrates, caught in flight or gleaned from bark, foliage, and the ground.

Nesting

Nests in a tree hollow, sometimes lined with leaves; lays 3-5 white eggs.