Golden Nightjar vs Spotted Nightjar
Caprimulgus eximius compared with Eurostopodus argus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden Nightjar | Spotted Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus eximius | Eurostopodus argus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) |
| Weight | 54.2 g (1.91 oz) | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal moth hawker; also takes beetles and winged termites in erratic aerial pursuits above dry … | 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
Golden Nightjar only
None
Spotted Nightjar only
Song & Call Comparison
Golden Nightjar
Churring trill; repetitive 'chrrrr' from Sahel sandy scrub; calls at night from open terrain; alarm a sharp bark; poorly recorded for such a distinctive species
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
Golden Nightjar
Found in the Sahel zone of West Africa from Mauritania and Senegal east to Niger and Chad. Resident in sandy semi-desert and open scrub.
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
Golden Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Golden Nightjar
Striking golden-ochre and black plumage; upperparts rich tawny-gold with bold black streaks; wings show large golden-buff spots on coverts; white throat and tail corners in males; uniquely warm coloration among …
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
Golden Nightjar
A striking nightjar (23 cm) with rich golden-buff plumage and bold tawny markings, unique among nightjars. Inhabits arid Sahel scrub and semi-desert zones across northern sub-Saharan Africa. Nocturnal insectivore, feeding on beetles and moths in low flight over open ground.
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.