夜鹰科（学名Caprimulgidae）在动物分类学上是鸟纲夜鹰目中的一个科，是中等体型的夜行鸟类，长翼、短腿、短喙。世界各地均有分布。

夜鹰科分为两个亚科，约15属。

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the family Caprimulgidae, characterized by long wings, short legs and very short bills. They are sometimes called goatsuckers, due to the ancient folk tale that they sucked the milk from goats (the Latin for goatsucker is Caprimulgus). Some New World species are called nighthawks. Nightjars usually nest on the ground.