Barred Owlet-nightjar vs Starry Owlet-nightjar
Aegotheles bennettii compared with Aegotheles tatei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barred Owlet-nightjar | Starry Owlet-nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aegotheles bennettii | Aegotheles tatei |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Aegothelidae | Aegothelidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.6 cm (9.7 in) | 29.2 cm (11.5 in) |
| Weight | 52.416666666666664 g (1.85 oz) | 52.0 g (1.83 oz) |
| Diet | Crepuscular and nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches beetles, moths, and flying ants in short sallying flights … | Night-active forager on large beetles, ants, and moths; combines short aerial pursuits with bark-gleaning. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Barred Owlet-nightjar
Churring 'churr-churr'; moderate-pitched trill from New Guinea lowland forest; calls at night from tree hollows; alarm a chattering series; repetitive territorial call
Starry Owlet-nightjar
Churring trill with whistled elements; 'cherr-wick' phrases; calls from New Guinea montane forest; medium pitched; alarm a sharp 'chek'; calls at dusk from dense vegetation
Geographic Range & Migration
Barred Owlet-nightjar
Found in New Guinea and adjacent islands in lowland and hill forest. Resident in diverse forest types from coast to 1,500 m elevation.
Starry Owlet-nightjar
Found in the highlands of New Guinea at 1,800–3,400 m. Resident in montane and subalpine forest. Poorly known and rarely recorded.
Conservation Status
Barred Owlet-nightjar
Starry Owlet-nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Barred Owlet-nightjar
Brown upperparts with distinct dark brown barring creating ladder-like pattern; underparts pale buff with extensive dark barring; bold facial disc markings; New Guinea species with the most conspicuously barred plumage …
Starry Owlet-nightjar
Dark brown upperparts densely spotted with small white starlike spots on coverts; pale underparts barred brown; distinctively dotted wing coverts give a starry appearance; New Guinea montane endemic with bold …
About These Birds
Barred Owlet-nightjar
A medium-sized owlet-nightjar (23-26 cm) found in forests and savanna woodland of New Guinea and northern Australia. Barred brown plumage with a dark crown and facial disc. Nocturnal insectivore, nesting in tree hollows. The most widespread New Guinean owlet-nightjar.
Starry Owlet-nightjar
A medium-sized owlet-nightjar (24-26 cm) found in montane forests of New Guinea. Warm brown plumage with white starry spots on the wing coverts. Nocturnal insectivore. Poorly known, restricted to high-altitude cloud forests. Named for the star-like wing markings.