Square-tailed Nightjar

Identification

The square-tailed nightjar is a medium-sized nightjar with plumage similar to several related species, making field identification challenging. Its distinguishing feature is its tail shape—despite its common name, it does not possess a completely square tail, but the tail configuration is notably different from its closest relatives. The most reliable way to distinguish it from the similarly plumaged slender-tailed nightjar is by observing the tail: the slender-tailed nightjar has distinctly protruding central tail feathers, whereas the square-tailed nightjar's tail is comparatively more even. The bird is also known by alternative names reflecting different geographic regions: the Gabon nightjar, Gaboon nightjar, or Mozambique nightjar.

Range & Habitat

The square-tailed nightjar has an extensive range across the African continent, occurring mainly south of the equator but migrating into tropical regions during the northern hemisphere summer. An isolated population exists in Equatorial Guinea and western Gabon. The species is a seasonal visitor to the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Tanzania, southern Kenya, and southern Uganda, arriving during the summer months.

Year-round residents can be found throughout a wide belt of countries including Angola, Botswana, Burundi, the Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The species inhabits tropical and subtropical woodlands across its range, with different subspecies showing preferences for particular habitats: some occupy mainly inland plateaus, others prefer lowlands and lowveld regions, while another subspecies is associated with Kalahari desert habitats.

Behaviour & Diet

Like other nightjars, the square-tailed nightjar is primarily nocturnal and insectivorous, hunting for flying insects during twilight and night hours. The bird is highly vocal and can be readily identified by its distinctive call, a prolonged churring sound that alternates between fast and slow paces roughly every second. This rhythmic pattern differs notably from related species: the long-tailed nightjar produces consistently fast churrs, while the slender-tailed nightjar produces consistently slow churrs. This acoustic distinction provides an excellent identification tool for birdwatchers in areas where multiple nightjar species overlap.

Best Time & Places to See It

The best time to locate square-tailed nightjars varies by location. In southern African countries where they are year-round residents—such as South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia—they can be found throughout the year. For observers in the northern reaches of their range, including southern Kenya, southern Uganda, and northern Tanzania, the summer months offer the best opportunity to encounter this seasonal visitor.

Listening for the bird's distinctive alternating churring call during dusk and nighttime hours is often more productive than attempting visual observation, as nightjars are cryptically plumaged and remain well-hidden during daylight.

Photography Tips

Photographing square-tailed nightjars presents significant challenges due to their nocturnal habits and cryptic coloration. Night photography equipment with infrared or thermal capability offers the best chance of capturing images. Alternatively, photographers may attempt to photograph roosting birds during dawn or dusk when light levels are marginal but still usable. Locating calling birds by following their distinctive alternating-pace churring during evening hours will increase the likelihood of finding a subject. Wide-angle lenses may be necessary to capture the diagnostic tail shape, which is the key field mark distinguishing this species from similar nightjars.