European Nightjar

The European Nightjar is a crepuscular and nocturnal bird whose intricate grey-brown, buff, and dark streaking closely matches bark and leaf litter. Adults measure 24.5–28 centimetres, with long pointed wings spanning 52–59 centimetres. The flight is buoyant and quiet because of the soft plumage. Males show white patches across the primaries and white tips on the outer tail feathers in flight, markings absent from females. Eastern populations become smaller and paler along the species' range. (Wikipedia, European Nightjar account)

The species breeds from Europe east across the Palearctic to Mongolia and northwestern China, then migrates to sub-Saharan Africa. It favours dry open country broken by trees or bushes, including heath, moorland, forest clearings, and newly planted woodland. By day it rests motionless on the ground or lengthwise along a branch, relying on camouflage. The male advertises a spring territory with a prolonged churring song and patrols with raised wings and a fanned tail. Two eggs are placed directly on the ground. (Wikipedia, European Nightjar account)