Andaman Nightjar vs Nechisar Nightjar
Caprimulgus andamanicus compared with Caprimulgus solala
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andaman Nightjar | Nechisar Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus andamanicus | Caprimulgus solala |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 37.0 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 66.06666666666666 g (2.33 oz) | 79.0 g (2.79 oz) |
| Diet | Night-hunting insectivore targeting moths, flying beetles, and winged ants in erratic low-altitude aerial passes. | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; hawks moths and flying beetles over arid scrubland and rocky desert margins. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | -- |
| 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
Nechisar Nightjar
Virtually unknown vocalizations; known only from a single wing feather; presumed churring song; critically rare Ethiopian endemic with essentially undescribed call
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.
Nechisar Nightjar
Found across the Sahel from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to Uganda and Kenya. Resident in open savanna and dry grassland.
Conservation Status
Andaman Nightjar
Nechisar 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 …
Nechisar Nightjar
Known from a single wing feather specimen; dark brownish-black with pale buff and tawny mottling; intricate fine vermiculations consistent with Caprimulgus pattern; extremely poorly known Ethiopian endemic.
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.
Nechisar Nightjar
An enigmatic and critically rare nightjar known from a single specimen and feather samples collected in the Nechisar Plains of southern Ethiopia in 1990. No confirmed sightings since. Classified as Critically Endangered. Its ecology, range, and population remain virtually unknown.