Andaman Nightjar vs Plain Nightjar
Caprimulgus andamanicus compared with Caprimulgus inornatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andaman Nightjar | Plain Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus andamanicus | Caprimulgus inornatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 30.6 cm (12.0 in) |
| Weight | 66.06666666666666 g (2.33 oz) | 45.75 g (1.61 oz) |
| Diet | Night-hunting insectivore targeting moths, flying beetles, and winged ants in erratic low-altitude aerial passes. | Feeds nocturnally on moths and large beetles in erratic low-level hunting flights over tropical scrub. |
| 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
Plain Nightjar
Monotonous churring trill; steady 'churrrrr' from African savanna; calls persistently at night; plain plumage matched by relatively unvaried, repetitive song
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.
Plain Nightjar
Found from Ethiopia and Somalia south to Kenya and Tanzania. Resident in arid acacia scrub and dry open country. Closely related to Nubian Nightjar.
Conservation Status
Andaman Nightjar
Plain 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 …
Plain Nightjar
Uniformly plain sandy-grey upperparts with minimal patterning; faint pale supercilium; small whitish throat spot; underparts pale buff with fine barring; among the least boldly marked nightjars, blending into Sahel scrubland.
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.
Plain Nightjar
A small nightjar (21-23 cm) of arid and semi-arid zones across the Sahel belt of Africa, from Senegal to Somalia. Pale sandy plumage with minimal markings. Nocturnal insectivore, feeding on beetles and moths. Nomadic movements tied to seasonal rainfall patterns.