Donaldson Smith's Nightjar vs Cayenne Nightjar
Caprimulgus donaldsoni compared with Setopagis maculosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Donaldson Smith's Nightjar | Cayenne Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus donaldsoni | Setopagis maculosa |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) | 27.8 cm (10.9 in) |
| Weight | 29.75 g (1.05 oz) | 47.0 g (1.66 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal insect hawker feeding on moths, beetles, and flying crickets; hunts in buoyant coursing flight. | Catches flying insects in aerial pursuit at night over South American forest and scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar
Soft, rapid churring; thin 'trrrr' at moderate pitch; small size produces lighter call; calls from dry African scrub at night; poorly known vocalizations
Cayenne Nightjar
Poorly known vocalizations; presumed churring trill based on genus; extremely rare recordings; distinct from other Setopagis by subtle tonal and rhythm differences
Geographic Range & Migration
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar
Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Gabon south to South Africa. Common in woodland, forest edge, and gardens. Produces distinctive churring calls.
Cayenne Nightjar
Known from a few specimens from French Guiana; possibly a rare resident of coastal forest and scrub; poorly known.
Conservation Status
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar
Cayenne Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar
Small and compact; pale greyish-brown upperparts finely vermiculated blackish; narrow whitish supercilium; small white throat spot; underparts pale buff with faint barring; notably small size compared to African relatives.
Cayenne Nightjar
Brown and buff mottled above with dark vermiculations; pale buff below with darker barring; white throat patch in male; outer tail spots white; data deficient; known from only a handful …
About These Birds
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar
A small nightjar (20-22 cm) of dry bush and semi-arid scrublands in the Horn of Africa, particularly Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Pale grey-brown plumage. Nocturnal insectivore. Named after the American explorer Donaldson Smith. Poorly known in the wild.
Cayenne Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~47 g) from coastal French Guiana and adjacent Suriname. Known from only a handful of specimens; biology essentially unknown. Mottled brown plumage presumed cryptic in leaf litter. Presumed nocturnal insectivore. Data Deficient due to extreme rarity of confirmed records in the wild.