Buff-collared Nightjar vs Archbold's Nightjar
Antrostomus ridgwayi compared with Eurostopodus archboldi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Buff-collared Nightjar | Archbold's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Antrostomus ridgwayi | Eurostopodus archboldi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) | 41.0 cm (16.1 in) |
| Weight | 49.5 g (1.75 oz) | 77.0 g (2.72 oz) |
| Diet | Catches moths and flying insects at night over arid scrub and rocky canyons of Mexico … | Aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in nocturnal flight over New Guinea montane forest. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Buff-collared Nightjar
Rapid, staccato 'cuk-cuk-cuk-WEEEER'; accelerating series ending in long slurred note; carries through arid Mexican canyons; distinctive rapid chucking intro
Archbold's Nightjar
Rarely recorded; presumed churring nocturnal song; low, resonant trilling typical of genus; vocalizations scarcely documented from highland New Guinea
Geographic Range & Migration
Buff-collared Nightjar
Breeds in arid scrub and dry woodland in southwestern USA (Arizona, New Mexico) and western Mexico; winters south to Honduras.
Archbold's Nightjar
Resident of montane forest in central New Guinea (Snow Mountains and Star Mountains) above 1,500 m; very poorly known.
Conservation Status
Buff-collared Nightjar
Archbold's Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Buff-collared Nightjar
Brown and grey mottled with dark vermiculations; buff-orange collar across hindneck diagnostic; white gorget in male; pale buff underparts with dark barring; white outer tail spots in male; arid southwest …
Archbold's Nightjar
Brown and dark grey with rufous-buff vermiculations; whitish throat patch; pale buff supercilium contrasts with darker crown; no white wing or tail patches; tail barred; New Guinea highlands; few records.
About These Birds
Buff-collared Nightjar
A medium-small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~50 g) of arid scrub, rocky canyon slopes, and thorn forest from the southwestern United States to Nicaragua. A buff nuchal collar distinguishes it from similar species. Calls with a loud 'cuck-cuck-cuck-coo-chee' phrase. Feeds on moths and beetles. Least Concern.
Archbold's Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~77 g) known from subalpine grasslands and forest margins in the interior mountains of New Guinea. Named after naturalist Richard Archbold. Cryptic brown-patterned plumage. Nocturnal insectivore. Infrequently observed; biology largely undescribed. Least Concern in its montane range.