Buff-collared Nightjar vs Heinrich's Nightjar
Antrostomus ridgwayi compared with Eurostopodus diabolicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Buff-collared Nightjar | Heinrich's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Antrostomus ridgwayi | Eurostopodus diabolicus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.0 cm (11.8 in) | 39.9 cm (15.7 in) |
| Weight | 49.5 g (1.75 oz) | 104.0 g (3.67 oz) |
| Diet | Catches moths and flying insects at night over arid scrub and rocky canyons of Mexico … | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in flight over Sulawesi forest; poorly known. |
| 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
Heinrich's Nightjar
Haunting, hollow 'ku-WOO' repeated rhythmically; deep resonant quality; distinctive mournful whistle carrying through Sulawesi forest at night
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.
Heinrich's Nightjar
Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia; resident of montane forest; extremely rare and poorly known, with very few records.
Conservation Status
Buff-collared Nightjar
Heinrich'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 …
Heinrich's Nightjar
Rufous-brown and dark brown mottled with buff vermiculations; large pale buff throat patch; pale buff supercilium; no white wing markings; tail darkly barred brown and buff. Poorly known; Sulawesi endemic.
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.
Heinrich's Nightjar
A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~104 g) endemic to the forest and forest-edge habitats of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Cryptically patterned brown-and-buff. Nocturnal insectivore; catches moths and beetles in aerial sallies. Little studied and rarely encountered in the field. Least Concern within its Sulawesi range.