Square-tailed Nightjar
Square-tailed NightjarSquare-tailed NightjarSquare-tailed NightjarSquare-tailed Nightjar

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Akagera National Park
51 Verified records at Akagera National Park
July Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

The square-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae which is native to tropical and subtropical woodlands of the Afrotropics. It has an extensive range south of the African equator. Despite not having a completely "square tail", its naming highlights a distinguishing field mark. The similarly plumaged slender-tailed nightjar, found in dry bush country of the tropics, differs namely by its protruding central tail feathers. It is alternatively known as the Gabon nightjar or Gaboon nightjar or the Mozambique nightjar. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Square-tailed Nightjar sighting in Akagera National Park, based on 51 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Akagera National Park

Slender-tailed Nightjar
LC

Slender-tailed Nightjar

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Caprimulgus clarus

Insufficient data
Pennant-winged Nightjar
LC

Pennant-winged Nightjar

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Caprimulgus vexillarius

<5% · Rare
Swamp Nightjar
LC

Swamp Nightjar

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Caprimulgus natalensis

<5% · Rare
Fiery-necked Nightjar
LC

Fiery-necked Nightjar

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Caprimulgus pectoralis

<5% · Rare
Freckled Nightjar
LC

Freckled Nightjar

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Caprimulgus tristigma

<5% · Rare
European Nightjar
LC

European Nightjar

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Caprimulgus europaeus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
5–10
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
5–10
Jun
20–30
Jul
<5
Aug
10–20
Sep
10–20
Oct
5–10
Nov
<5
Dec

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
20–30%
2 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
10–20%
3 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
10–20%
4 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
10–20%
5 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
10–20%
6 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
7 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
8 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
5–10%
9 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
5–10%
10 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
5–10%
11 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
12 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
13 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
14 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
15 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
16 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
17 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
18 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
19 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
20 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
21 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
22 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
23 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
24 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
25 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
26 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
27 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
28 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
29 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
30 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
31 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
32 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
33 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
34 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
35 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
36 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Square-tailed Nightjar in Akagera National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Square-tailed Nightjar sighting in Akagera National Park, based on 51 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Square-tailed Nightjar in Akagera National Park?

July has the highest sighting rate for Square-tailed Nightjar in Akagera National Park in our monthly data.

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