Mozambique Nightjar vs Lesser Nighthawk
Caprimulgus fossii compared with Chordeiles acutipennis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mozambique Nightjar | Lesser Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus fossii | Chordeiles acutipennis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.0 cm (12.2 in) | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) |
| Weight | 61.7 g (2.18 oz) | 50.0 g (1.76 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds nocturnally on flying insects, chiefly moths and beetles, by hawking low over arid scrub … | Hawks small flying insects at dusk and dawn over North and South American arid scrub … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Mozambique Nightjar only
Lesser Nighthawk only
Song & Call Comparison
Mozambique Nightjar
Loud churring trill; resonant 'charrr' from miombo woodland; calls from sandy ground at night; alarm a sharp 'churk'; one of southern Africa's most familiar nightjar calls
Lesser Nighthawk
Loud purring trill; buzzy 'brrrrr' given in flight; lower and softer than Common Nighthawk; males display with booming wingbeats; calls at dusk over deserts
Geographic Range & Migration
Mozambique Nightjar
Breeds in West Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia. Intra-African migrant; male has extraordinary elongated flag-like wing feathers.
Lesser Nighthawk
Breeds in open arid scrub from southwestern USA south through Central America to western South America; winters in Mexico and northern South America.
Conservation Status
Mozambique Nightjar
Lesser Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Mozambique Nightjar
Grey-brown upperparts with black streaks and pale buff freckling; white throat patch; underparts barred buff and dark brown; males show white outer tail corners; Southern African bird distinguished by greyer …
Lesser Nighthawk
Brown and buff mottled above; buff-white below with brown barring; white throat in male; white wing bar closer to wingtip than in Common Nighthawk; buff tail band. Female with buff …
About These Birds
Mozambique Nightjar
A small nightjar (22-24 cm) widespread across southern and eastern Africa. Grey-brown plumage with bold white wing and tail spots. Found in varied habitats from woodland to gardens. Nocturnal insectivore with a sustained churring song. Partial intra-African migrant.
Lesser Nighthawk
A small Caprimulgidae nighthawk (~50 g) of deserts, semi-arid scrub, and open woodland from the southwestern United States to Peru and Brazil. Brown-and-buff patterned; males have a white throat bar. Low, buoyant flight close to the ground at dusk. Hunts insects aerially. Migratory; Least Concern.