Silky-tailed Nightjar vs Archbold's Nightjar
Antrostomus sericocaudatus compared with Eurostopodus archboldi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Silky-tailed Nightjar | Archbold's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Antrostomus sericocaudatus | Eurostopodus archboldi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.1 cm (12.6 in) | 41.0 cm (16.1 in) |
| Weight | 77.5 g (2.73 oz) | 77.0 g (2.72 oz) |
| Diet | Hawks moths and beetles in nocturnal aerial sallies over South American lowland and foothill forest. | 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
Silky-tailed Nightjar
Whistled, rolling 'pwee-pwee-pwee'; melodic phrase from Amazonian forest; calls persistently at dusk; slightly slurred delivery; alarm a sudden sharp note
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
Silky-tailed Nightjar
Resident of lowland and foothill forest in southern Brazil (São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina) and adjacent Paraguay and Argentina.
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
Silky-tailed Nightjar
Archbold's Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Silky-tailed Nightjar
Brown and buff mottled above with dark vermiculations; white gorget in male; outer tail feathers with silky-white inner webs giving smooth appearance; pale buff below; female with buff gorget and …
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
Silky-tailed Nightjar
A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~78 g) of humid lowland Atlantic Forest and adjacent cerrado edges in central and southeastern Brazil and adjacent Paraguay. Named for its silky-textured outer tail feathers. Cryptic brown plumage. Nocturnal insectivore. Rarely recorded; biology little known. 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.