Egyptian Nightjar vs Cayenne Nightjar
Caprimulgus aegyptius compared with Setopagis maculosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Egyptian Nightjar | Cayenne Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus aegyptius | Setopagis maculosa |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 40.2 cm (15.8 in) | 27.8 cm (10.9 in) |
| Weight | 77.0 g (2.72 oz) | 47.0 g (1.66 oz) |
| Diet | Night-active insect hawker taking moths, beetles, and flying termites during sallies over tropical forest clearings. | Catches flying insects in aerial pursuit at night over South American forest and scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Egyptian Nightjar
Soft, repetitive 'qurr-qurr'; purring trill from desert scrub; quieter than most Caprimulgus; calls carry across open sandy terrain at night; alarm a low 'croak'
Cayenne Nightjar
Poorly known vocalizations; presumed churring trill based on genus; extremely rare recordings; distinct from other Setopagis by subtle tonal and rhythm differences
Geographic Range & Migration
Egyptian Nightjar
Breeds in North Africa and the Middle East east to Pakistan. Migrant wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. Found in sandy desert and semi-arid terrain.
Cayenne Nightjar
Known from a few specimens from French Guiana; possibly a rare resident of coastal forest and scrub; poorly known.
Conservation Status
Egyptian Nightjar
Cayenne Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Egyptian Nightjar
Pale sandy-buff overall with fine dark brown speckles and streaks; whitish throat patch; wings show ochre spotting on coverts; one of the palest nightjars, adapted to arid desert habitats.
Cayenne Nightjar
Brown and buff mottled above with dark vermiculations; pale buff below with darker barring; white throat patch in male; outer tail spots white; data deficient; known from only a handful …
About These Birds
Egyptian Nightjar
A pale, sandy-colored nightjar (25 cm) well adapted to arid habitats. Cryptic desert plumage provides excellent camouflage on open sandy ground. Nocturnal insectivore feeding on beetles and moths. Found from the Sahara across the Middle East to Central Asia. A long-distance migrant.
Cayenne Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~47 g) from coastal French Guiana and adjacent Suriname. Known from only a handful of specimens; biology essentially unknown. Mottled brown plumage presumed cryptic in leaf litter. Presumed nocturnal insectivore. Data Deficient due to extreme rarity of confirmed records in the wild.