Andaman Nightjar vs Donaldson Smith's Nightjar
Caprimulgus andamanicus compared with Caprimulgus donaldsoni
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andaman Nightjar | Donaldson Smith's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus andamanicus | Caprimulgus donaldsoni |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) |
| Weight | 66.06666666666666 g (2.33 oz) | 29.75 g (1.05 oz) |
| Diet | Night-hunting insectivore targeting moths, flying beetles, and winged ants in erratic low-altitude aerial passes. | Nocturnal insect hawker feeding on moths, beetles, and flying crickets; hunts in buoyant coursing flight. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Andaman Nightjar
Loud 'chuck-chuck-trrr'; hollow knocking prefix followed by trill; endemic to Andaman Islands; calls at night from forest edges and clearings; similar to Large-tailed
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar
Soft, rapid churring; thin 'trrrr' at moderate pitch; small size produces lighter call; calls from dry African scrub at night; poorly known vocalizations
Geographic Range & Migration
Andaman Nightjar
Endemic to the Philippines including Luzon and Mindanao. Resident in lowland and submontane forest and forest edge up to 1,800 m.
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar
Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Gabon south to South Africa. Common in woodland, forest edge, and gardens. Produces distinctive churring calls.
Conservation Status
Andaman Nightjar
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Andaman Nightjar
Warm rufous-brown upperparts with black-centred scapulars and pale buff streaks; broad white throat patch; males show white outer tail feathers; underparts buff barred brown; endemic island coloration slightly warmer than …
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar
Small and compact; pale greyish-brown upperparts finely vermiculated blackish; narrow whitish supercilium; small white throat spot; underparts pale buff with faint barring; notably small size compared to African relatives.
About These Birds
Andaman Nightjar
A medium-sized nightjar (24-26 cm) endemic to the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Dark brown plumage with rufous collar spots. Nocturnal insectivore of lowland and mangrove forests. A sedentary species with a restricted island range.
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar
A small nightjar (20-22 cm) of dry bush and semi-arid scrublands in the Horn of Africa, particularly Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Pale grey-brown plumage. Nocturnal insectivore. Named after the American explorer Donaldson Smith. Poorly known in the wild.