Mozambique Nightjar vs Spotted Nightjar
Caprimulgus fossii compared with Eurostopodus argus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mozambique Nightjar | Spotted Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus fossii | Eurostopodus argus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.0 cm (12.2 in) | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) |
| Weight | 61.7 g (2.18 oz) | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds nocturnally on flying insects, chiefly moths and beetles, by hawking low over arid scrub … | Aerial insectivore; hawks large moths, beetles, and flying insects at dusk and dawn over Australian … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Mozambique Nightjar only
Spotted Nightjar 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
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
Mozambique Nightjar
Breeds in West Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia. Intra-African migrant; male has extraordinary elongated flag-like wing feathers.
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
Mozambique Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
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 …
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
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.
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.