Australian Owlet-nightjar

1. Large, non-reflective brown eyes when caught in a torch beam

2. Two broad black stripes from above the eyes to the back of the neck

3. Listen for a loud, brief “chew” or a repeated “chirr-chirr-chirr” call, often the best clue to their presence

Owlet-nightjars form permanent pair bonds and defend year-round territories. They are opportunistic insectivores, catching prey both in flight and on the ground, using both perch-and-pounce and ground-foraging tactics. Breeding occurs mainly from August to December; both parents line a tree hollow nest with green leaves, and the female lays 2–5 white eggs, which are incubated by both parents for about 28 days. Chicks fledge after roughly four weeks and may stay with parents for several months. Major threats include predation by introduced mammals, competition for nesting hollows, and habitat loss.

Australian Owlet-nightjars are widespread across Australia and southern New Guinea, found in nearly any wooded area with suitable hollows. They inhabit open woodlands, mallee, grasslands, mangroves, and even urban parks with mature trees. During the day, they roost in tree hollows, only emerging at dusk to hunt. Their distinctive calls are most often heard just after sunset or before dawn, making them easier to detect by sound than sight`.`