European Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus, is a species of nightjar found in heathland and shrub and woodland and forest ecosystems. It is a widespread summer visitor breeding across most of Europe. The species nests on bare or sparsely vegetated ground, often on free-draining soils. It uses mainly dry, open country including lowland heaths with scattered trees and bushes, commons and moorland, forest and woodland (especially glades, clearings and edges), recently felled woodland and young forestry plantations. It also uses chalk downland, industrial waste tips, wooded or scrub-covered steppe, sparsely forested or stony hillsides, oak scrubland, dense coppices, shingle, sand dunes, semi-deserts and deserts (European Red List 2015).

Caprimulgus europaeus has a breeding population size of 141000-280000 calling males and a breeding range size of 2210000 square kilometres in the EU27. The breeding population trend in the EU27 is Unknown in the short term and Uncertain in the long term.

The EU population status for Caprimulgus europaeus is Unknown, as the data reported were not sufficient to assess the population status of the species.