Nightjars are nocturnal birds and can be seen hawking for food at dusk and dawn. The term ''nightjar'' is used to describe all of the birds in the subfamily Caprimulginae and is sometimes expanded to include nighthawks in the subfamily Chordeilinae. With a ghostly reputation due to their their silent flight, typical nightjars have rictal (corner of the mouth) bristles, longer bills, and softer plumage. They were once referred to as goatsuckers due to their alleged ability to steal milk from goats. Found all around the world, with the exception of Antarctica and certain island groups such as the Seychelles, there are almost 100 species in 20 genera. There are between 60 and 70 different species of nightjars in the subfamily Caprimulginae. With the addition of other subfamilies, such as the nighthawks, there are some 97 species that have been identified, according to the International Ornithological Committee (IOC). Out of these, nine of the species are endangered.
