Australian Owlet-nightjar vs Wallace's Owlet-nightjar
Aegotheles cristatus compared with Aegotheles wallacii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Australian Owlet-nightjar | Wallace's Owlet-nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aegotheles cristatus | Aegotheles wallacii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Aegothelidae | Aegothelidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) | 23.8 cm (9.4 in) |
| Weight | 48.0 g (1.69 oz) | 49.9 g (1.76 oz) |
| Diet | Crepuscular to nocturnal; feeds on large beetles, moths, and flying insects by aerial sallies and … | Crepuscular insectivore feeding on large beetles and moths; hunts with combined aerial sallies and surface … |
| Clutch Size | 2-5 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Australian Owlet-nightjar only
Wallace's Owlet-nightjar only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Australian Owlet-nightjar
Loud, churring 'churr-churr' and yapping 'quee-quee'; distinctive churring trill; calls at night from tree hollows in Australian woodland; alarm a sharp yapping series
Wallace's Owlet-nightjar
Soft churring trill; 'churr' from New Guinea lowland forest; moderate pitch; calls at night from hollow tree roost sites; alarm a rapid staccato chatter
Geographic Range & Migration
Australian Owlet-nightjar
Found throughout Australia including Tasmania. Resident in woodland, mallee scrub, and suburban areas. Australia's most widespread owlet-nightjar.
Wallace's Owlet-nightjar
Found in New Guinea and the Aru Islands in lowland and hill forest up to 1,200 m. Resident in primary and secondary tropical forest.
Conservation Status
Australian Owlet-nightjar
Wallace's Owlet-nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Australian Owlet-nightjar
Grey-brown upperparts with dark brown barring; underparts pale buff finely barred dark; facial disc with bold dark bars; small crest feathers; two morphs—grey and rufous-brown; commonly seen perching upright in …
Wallace's Owlet-nightjar
Grey-brown upperparts with dark brown barring and pale buff freckling; underparts pale buff barred brown; facial disc with dark border; Papuan species showing typical owlet-nightjar coloration with moderately contrasting barring.
About These Birds
Australian Owlet-nightjar
A small owlet-nightjar (21-25 cm), the most widespread and familiar member of its family. Found across Australia and southern New Guinea. Grey or rufous plumage with bold dark streaks and a distinctive facial disc. Nocturnal insectivore nesting in tree hollows. Resident and common.
Wallace's Owlet-nightjar
A medium-sized owlet-nightjar (23-25 cm) found in lowland forests of New Guinea and the Aru Islands. Dark brown plumage with barred underparts. Nocturnal insectivore of dense forest undergrowth. Named after Alfred Russel Wallace. Poorly studied in the wild.