European nightjar

The defining sound of a heath at dusk. The male nightjar's song is a long, mechanical churr that rises and falls, often punctuated by a sharp clap of the wings. Nightjars are among the last migrants to arrive, in late April and May, breed on heathlands, moorlands, woodland clearings and recently felled conifer plantations, and have mostly left by late August and September. Stand on a heath path as the light fades on a still June or July evening, listen for the churr, then watch for the long-winged shape hunting overhead at dusk. The news is encouraging: national survey results published in June 2026 showed nightjar territories up by around 20% since 2004, with more birds breeding in Scotland.