Indian Nightjar vs Spotted Nightjar
Caprimulgus asiaticus compared with Eurostopodus argus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Nightjar | Spotted Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus asiaticus | Eurostopodus argus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 29.5 cm (11.6 in) | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) |
| Weight | 43.0 g (1.52 oz) | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal forager on flying insects; specialises in large moths and beetles in slow aerial passes … | Aerial insectivore; hawks large moths, beetles, and flying insects at dusk and dawn over Australian … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Indian Nightjar only
None
Spotted Nightjar only
Song & Call Comparison
Indian Nightjar
Loud 'chuck-chuck-chuck-r'; rapid hollow knocking notes accelerating into a trill; carries far across South Asian scrub; distinctive rhythm; very persistent at night
Spotted Nightjar
Loud churring 'good-lord-deliver-us' repeated at dusk; melodic bubbling quality; also emits hollow 'cow-cow-cow' series and soft frog-like croaking
Geographic Range & Migration
Indian Nightjar
Endemic to Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. Resident in forest edge, savanna, and open scrub across the island including arid southern regions.
Spotted Nightjar
Resident and partial migrant of open woodland, grassland, and scrub across mainland Australia and migrating to New Guinea and Indonesia in winter.
Conservation Status
Indian Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Indian Nightjar
Greyish-brown upperparts with black-centred feathers and buff freckling; white throat patch; pale supercilium; males show white primary spots and outer tail corners; underparts barred buff-brown; widespread South Asian species.
Spotted Nightjar
Cryptically mottled grey-brown, rufous, and black with intricate vermiculations; distinctive large white spots on wing coverts; white throat patch; no white in wings or tail. Sexes similar with slight pattern …
About These Birds
Indian Nightjar
A small nightjar (21-24 cm) widespread across the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. Sandy-grey plumage with a distinctive white throat patch and wing spots. Inhabits open scrub, farmland, and gardens. Nocturnal insectivore with a distinctive chuck-chuck-chuck call.
Spotted Nightjar
A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~103 g) of open woodland, spinifex grassland, and rocky ridges across mainland Australia. Intricately spotted and barred brown, grey, and buff. Cryptic by day on the ground among leaf litter. Crepuscular and nocturnal; feeds on flying insects caught in aerial pursuit. Least Concern.