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When to see Square tailed Nightjar in Kruger National Park
Square tailed Nightjar are most active late afternoon into dusk (17:00 to 20:00) and at night (18:00 to 06:00). Much of their activity falls outside gate hours, so the first drive after the gates open and the last hour before they close give you the best chance.
This is Square tailed Nightjar's general behavior. Once enough sightings are logged in Kruger National Park, this page also shows when they're actually seen here.
Where to look for Square tailed Nightjar in Kruger National Park: best roads
Drive
S59, S21 N'watimhiri Road and S110 Matjulu Loop run through mixed bushveld: good country for Square tailed Nightjar.
- S5930.9 km · mixed bushveld
- S21 N'watimhiri Road27.3 km · mixed bushveld
- S110 Matjulu Loop24.4 km · mixed bushveld
Picked from habitat, not from sightings. opspoor shows where Square tailed Nightjar have actually been seen recently.
About the Square tailed Nightjar
The square-tailed nightjar is a nocturnal bird of southern and eastern Africa, associated mainly with woodland, savanna and other open habitats. Its cryptic brown, grey and buff plumage provides excellent camouflage when resting on the ground or a low perch during the day. It becomes active at dusk and at night, feeding mainly on flying insects captured in flight. Its distinctive calls are often easier to detect than the bird itself.
How to identify the Square tailed Nightjar
Medium-sized nightjar with cryptic brown, grey and buff plumage that provides excellent camouflage against leaf litter and bare ground. Large dark eyes, broad rounded wings and a wide, whiskered-looking mouth are characteristic.
Other species to look for in Kruger National Park
Other parks where you can see Square tailed Nightjar
Heading to Kruger National Park? opspoor shows where Square tailed Nightjar have been logged recently and lets you log your own, even with no signal.