Golden Nightjar vs Heinrich's Nightjar
Caprimulgus eximius compared with Eurostopodus diabolicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden Nightjar | Heinrich's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus eximius | Eurostopodus diabolicus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 39.9 cm (15.7 in) |
| Weight | 54.2 g (1.91 oz) | 104.0 g (3.67 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal moth hawker; also takes beetles and winged termites in erratic aerial pursuits above dry … | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in flight over Sulawesi forest; poorly known. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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
Heinrich's Nightjar
Haunting, hollow 'ku-WOO' repeated rhythmically; deep resonant quality; distinctive mournful whistle carrying through Sulawesi forest at night
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.
Heinrich's Nightjar
Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia; resident of montane forest; extremely rare and poorly known, with very few records.
Conservation Status
Golden Nightjar
Heinrich's 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 …
Heinrich's Nightjar
Rufous-brown and dark brown mottled with buff vermiculations; large pale buff throat patch; pale buff supercilium; no white wing markings; tail darkly barred brown and buff. Poorly known; Sulawesi endemic.
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.
Heinrich's Nightjar
A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~104 g) endemic to the forest and forest-edge habitats of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Cryptically patterned brown-and-buff. Nocturnal insectivore; catches moths and beetles in aerial sallies. Little studied and rarely encountered in the field. Least Concern within its Sulawesi range.