Savanna Nightjar vs Papuan Nightjar
Caprimulgus affinis compared with Eurostopodus papuensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Savanna Nightjar | Papuan Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus affinis | Eurostopodus papuensis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.9 cm (12.6 in) | 37.9 cm (14.9 in) |
| Weight | 74.16666666666667 g (2.62 oz) | 80.5 g (2.84 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal aerial feeder on moths, beetles, and flying bugs; forages in open areas near woodland … | Hawks large flying insects, especially moths, at night over Papuan forest and savanna. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Savanna Nightjar only
Papuan 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
Papuan Nightjar
Churring, repetitive nocturnal call; soft bubbling trill; melodic series of hollow notes; calls from low perch or ground in New Guinea lowland forest
Geographic Range & Migration
Savanna Nightjar
Found in Indonesia and the Philippines on Sulawesi, Mindanao, and adjacent islands. Resident in lowland forest edge and scrub.
Papuan Nightjar
Resident of savanna woodland, grass, and scrub in lowland New Guinea (Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea).
Conservation Status
Savanna Nightjar
Papuan 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 …
Papuan Nightjar
Dark grey-brown finely vermiculated with buff and black; pale buff and rufous throat patch; pale supercilium; no white wing patches; tail barred brown and buff; cryptically patterned bark-mimicking plumage.
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.
Papuan Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~81 g) of lowland savanna, grassland, and forest edges across the southern lowlands of New Guinea. Cryptic buff-and-brown plumage; white-spotted wings visible in flight. Nocturnal aerial insectivore. Commonly heard at night but rarely seen by day. Least Concern.