Standard-winged Nightjar vs Spotted Nightjar
Caprimulgus longipennis compared with Eurostopodus argus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Standard-winged Nightjar | Spotted Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus longipennis | Eurostopodus argus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) |
| Weight | 48.5 g (1.71 oz) | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal moth and beetle specialist; hunts in sustained low flight over dry open country and … | 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
Standard-winged Nightjar only
None
Spotted Nightjar only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Standard-winged Nightjar
Churring 'chrrr' from West African woodland; male performs display flight with elongated wing feathers; calls from open savanna; alarm a quiet 'chek'
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
Standard-winged Nightjar
Breeds in central and southern Africa from Angola south to South Africa. Intra-African migrant; moves north in austral winter through miombo woodland.
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
Standard-winged Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Standard-winged Nightjar
Brown and black cryptic upperparts; white throat patch; breeding males develop extraordinary elongated inner primaries as feather-flag standards up to 38 cm with small terminal vane; among Africa's most spectacular …
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
Standard-winged Nightjar
A remarkable nightjar (22-28 cm) in which breeding males develop an extraordinary elongated innermost primary feather (up to 38 cm) with a broad, pennant-like flag. Found in moist savanna across West and Central Africa. Nocturnal insectivore; an 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.