Mozambique Nightjar vs Heinrich's Nightjar
Caprimulgus fossii compared with Eurostopodus diabolicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mozambique Nightjar | Heinrich's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus fossii | Eurostopodus diabolicus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.0 cm (12.2 in) | 39.9 cm (15.7 in) |
| Weight | 61.7 g (2.18 oz) | 104.0 g (3.67 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds nocturnally on flying insects, chiefly moths and beetles, by hawking low over arid scrub … | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in flight over Sulawesi forest; poorly known. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Mozambique Nightjar only
Heinrich's Nightjar only
None
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
Heinrich's Nightjar
Haunting, hollow 'ku-WOO' repeated rhythmically; deep resonant quality; distinctive mournful whistle carrying through Sulawesi forest at night
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.
Heinrich's Nightjar
Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia; resident of montane forest; extremely rare and poorly known, with very few records.
Conservation Status
Mozambique Nightjar
Heinrich's 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 …
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
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.
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.