How do nightjars reproduce without building a nest?

Nightjars, which belong to the family Caprimulgidae, do not construct nests. Instead, they reproduce by depositing their eggs directly onto the ground or onto the leaf-covered floor of woodland areas. Occasionally, they may utilize a slight natural depression or scratch out a simple site among debris to hold the eggs. Some species, such as North American nighthawks, have adapted to urban environments by laying their eggs on flat, gravel-covered rooftops.1

Because they do not use traditional nests, nightjars rely on the cryptic coloration of their eggs—which are often marbled with pink, buff, brown, or gray—to provide camouflage against their surroundings. Once the eggs are laid, incubation typically lasts about 19 days and may be performed by both parents or by the female alone. After hatching, the semi-precocial chicks are capable of walking on their first day and are led by their parents to different resting sites as they grow.12