Savanna Nightjar vs Heinrich's Nightjar
Caprimulgus affinis compared with Eurostopodus diabolicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Savanna Nightjar | Heinrich's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus affinis | Eurostopodus diabolicus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.9 cm (12.6 in) | 39.9 cm (15.7 in) |
| Weight | 74.16666666666667 g (2.62 oz) | 104.0 g (3.67 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal aerial feeder on moths, beetles, and flying bugs; forages in open areas near woodland … | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in flight over Sulawesi forest; poorly known. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Savanna Nightjar only
Heinrich'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
Heinrich's Nightjar
Haunting, hollow 'ku-WOO' repeated rhythmically; deep resonant quality; distinctive mournful whistle carrying through Sulawesi forest at night
Geographic Range & Migration
Savanna Nightjar
Found in Indonesia and the Philippines on Sulawesi, Mindanao, and adjacent islands. Resident in lowland forest edge and scrub.
Heinrich's Nightjar
Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia; resident of montane forest; extremely rare and poorly known, with very few records.
Conservation Status
Savanna Nightjar
Heinrich'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 …
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
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.
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.