Caprimulgus clarus
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The slender-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus clarus) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in parts of eastern and central Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The slender-tailed nightjar is a medium-sized nightjar, measuring approximately 25–28 cm in length. It has cryptically patterned brown, grey, and black plumage, providing effective camouflage against dry ground and leaf litter. The head is relatively large and flattened, with a small bill and a very wide gape adapted for catching insects in flight. The tail is long and tapered, with the central feathers extending beyond the others, giving rise to the species’ common name.
Sexes are similar in appearance, though males may show slightly more prominent pale patches on the wings. No subspecies are currently recognized. The species is distributed across eastern and parts of central Africa. It inhabits dry, open environments including savanna, dry woodland, bushland, open scrub, rocky areas, and sparsely vegetated grassland. It is often associated with semi-arid regions and may occur... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samburu National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 2 | Tsavo West National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 3 | Amboseli National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 4 | Lake Mburo National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 5 | Tarangire National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 6 | Kidepo Valley National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 7 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 8 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 9 | Serengeti National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 10 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 🇹🇿 Tanzania |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mombasa | 🇰🇪 Kenya |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Slender-tailed Nightjar sighting in Tsavo West National Park on a given day, based on 46 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 223rd most-seen of the 380 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February and April
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Slender-tailed Nightjar in Tsavo West National Park on a given day, against under 5% in May–June and August–December, the lowest months. Those are among Tsavo West National Park's wettest months, with about 85 mm of rain a month against 5 mm in July.
Between 5 and 8 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Slender-tailed Nightjar sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Among the best
Of the 10 parks where we can rate Slender-tailed Nightjar sightings, Tsavo West National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Samburu National Reserve (Kenya, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Slender-tailed Nightjar is recorded against all the birds logged in Tsavo West National Park (46 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
