Andaman Nightjar vs Short-tailed Nighthawk
Caprimulgus andamanicus compared with Lurocalis semitorquatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andaman Nightjar | Short-tailed Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus andamanicus | Lurocalis semitorquatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 37.1 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 66.06666666666666 g (2.33 oz) | 80.7 g (2.85 oz) |
| Diet | Night-hunting insectivore targeting moths, flying beetles, and winged ants in erratic low-altitude aerial passes. | Aerial insectivore; hawks large beetles and moths at night over South American forest canopy and … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| 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
Short-tailed Nighthawk
Loud, frog-like 'wok' or 'bok' repeated at dusk; hollow resonant quality; calls from high canopy in flight; rapid series when excited; distinctive and far-carrying
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.
Short-tailed Nighthawk
Resident of lowland forest edge and open woodland from Mexico through Central America and tropical South America to Bolivia and Brazil.
Conservation Status
Andaman Nightjar
Short-tailed Nighthawk
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 …
Short-tailed Nighthawk
Dark sooty-brown with buff and rufous spotting; rufous-spotted throat forms partial collar; short rounded tail barred dark brown and buff; lacks white wing bar; darker and more uniformly colored than …
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.
Short-tailed Nighthawk
A medium Caprimulgidae nighthawk (~81 g) of forest canopy edges and second growth across much of tropical South America and Central America. Dark brown plumage with a white throat patch. Flies swiftly above the canopy at dusk, catching insects. Rounded wings and very short tail are distinctive. Least Concern.