Since the early 2010s it has been placed in its current genus Eleothreptus, which it shares with the sickle-winged nightjar (E. anomalus).

The adult male's upperparts are pale grayish brown with bold blackish spots on the crown and brown streaks, bars, and speckles on most of the rest.

In flight the male shows whitish wings and a mostly white tail.

[4][5][6] The white-winged nightjar is known from widely separated sites in northern Bolivia, south-central Brazil, and eastern Paraguay.

It inhabits open grassland with scattered trees and bushes such as savanna and cerrado.

Male white-winged nightjars makes a soft territorial call "tshere-she-shew" during chases.

The main threats include conversion of habitat to agriculture (pasture, row crops, and Eucalyptus plantations) and fire.