The owlet-Nightjars are birds species commonly found in places such as Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania and New Caledonia among other similar Islands. Also known as Aegothelidae, these birds look like owls, but they are larger. These birds are known to inhabit different types of forests, but basically, their habitation can be said to be forests, particularly thick and densely vegetated ones. For instance, in New Guinea, they are to be found in thick and dense rainforests, while in other places they can be found in mountain forests, or lands with even less vegetation.

The Owlet-nightjars are little known by humans, and their name implies the similarities they have in common with owls. They have huge heads and big eyes, which enable them to see properly at night. Besides, they are also nocturnal, just like the owls. For this reason, they are not easy to see during the day, which may explain why they are not commonly known to man. These owlet-nightjars or Aegothelidae, especially those found in New Guinea, are known to feed on insects and small animals like frogs, worms and other small creatures. However, the food that some owlet-nightjars eat is still unknown, particularly because with these birds it is hardly possible for them to be sufficiently observed by human beings. Because they are nocturnal birds, it is very difficult to spot and study them.

Owlet-nightjars from Australia are however known to search for food within specific areas, which they mark as their territories. They often team up to search for food, usually in twos. At daytime, these birds stay in their coats, and they do not come out until it is dark. The nests of these birds are commonly constructed in hollow places, especially within rocks and tree trunks.

The owlet-nightjars from New Caledonia on the other hand are said to be in high risk of extinction. In fact, these birds were initially thought to have already become extinct. However, it is still believed that they exist, despite the extreme difficulty in seeing them during the day. Even when they come out at night, these birds cannot be easily spotted since they go off to hunt and search for food.

The owlet-nightjars can easily be identified by their physical appearance and looks. Some species of owlet-nightjars resemble cats, and are sometimes referred to as feline owlet nightjars. For this particular species, their heads are shaped like that of a cat, and one can even mistake it to be the head of a cat. The feathers on top of their eyes appear like the ears of a cat, and they also have some hairs near their beaks, which resemble the cats’ whiskers. With these cat-like features, the owlet-nightjar’s face really looks like that of a cat.

Clearly, owlet-nightjars are among the most rare bird species today. This can be attributed to their limited habitats the world over, and also because of their lifestyle, which only allows them to be active during the night, in darkness.