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How do nightjars perch when they rest on tree branches?
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Caprimulgiform
Male common nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) landing
When resting on tree branches, most nightjars typically perch lengthwise along the branch rather than sitting crosswise.1
While many nightjars prefer to roost on the ground, rocks, or fallen trunks, those that choose horizontal tree branches adopt this longitudinal orientation. However, some nightjars may use slender branches or vines as singing or foraging posts, in which case they sit on them crosswise.1