Savanna Nightjar vs Archbold's Nightjar
Caprimulgus affinis compared with Eurostopodus archboldi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Savanna Nightjar | Archbold's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus affinis | Eurostopodus archboldi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.9 cm (12.6 in) | 41.0 cm (16.1 in) |
| Weight | 74.16666666666667 g (2.62 oz) | 77.0 g (2.72 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal aerial feeder on moths, beetles, and flying bugs; forages in open areas near woodland … | Aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in nocturnal flight over New Guinea montane forest. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Savanna Nightjar only
Archbold's Nightjar only
Song & Call Comparison
Savanna Nightjar
Loud, churring 'chwerrr'; resonant trill from South and Southeast Asian open habitats; calls from bare ground and burnt areas; very common nocturnal sound
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
Savanna Nightjar
Found in Indonesia and the Philippines on Sulawesi, Mindanao, and adjacent islands. Resident in lowland forest edge and scrub.
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
Savanna Nightjar
Archbold's Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Savanna Nightjar
Pale greyish-brown upperparts with black shaft streaks and buff spotting; whitish supercilium and moustachial stripe; white throat patch; males show large white outer tail patches; widespread across South and Southeast …
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
Savanna Nightjar
A small nightjar (20-23 cm) widespread across South and Southeast Asia, from Pakistan to the Philippines. Pale grey-brown plumage with bold white wing patches visible in flight. Found in open habitats including fields, towns, and riverbanks. Crepuscular and nocturnal insectivore.
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.