Andaman Nightjar vs Choco Poorwill
Caprimulgus andamanicus compared with Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andaman Nightjar | Choco Poorwill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus andamanicus | Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 24.8 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 66.06666666666666 g (2.33 oz) | 49.65 g (1.75 oz) |
| Diet | Night-hunting insectivore targeting moths, flying beetles, and winged ants in erratic low-altitude aerial passes. | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and small insects in flight over Pacific Chocó forest. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 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
Choco Poorwill
Soft, purring 'poor-will' whistle; gentle repetitive phrases from humid Pacific forest; calls from low perch at night; higher and thinner than Common Poorwill
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.
Choco Poorwill
Resident of lowland Pacific rainforest and forest edge in northwestern Colombia and northwestern Ecuador (Chocó region).
Conservation Status
Andaman Nightjar
Choco Poorwill
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 …
Choco Poorwill
Brown and rufous mottled above with dark vermiculations; pale buff below with brown barring; white throat patch in male; small white spots on outer tail in male; no white wing …
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.
Choco Poorwill
A small Caprimulgidae poorwill (~50 g) of humid lowland and foothill rainforest in the Choco region of Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Mottled brown-and-buff plumage blends with forest floor. Secretive nocturnal insectivore; rarely seen. Calls with a repeated whistled note. Least Concern in its humid forest habitat.