Standard-winged Nightjar vs Cayenne Nightjar
Caprimulgus longipennis compared with Setopagis maculosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Standard-winged Nightjar | Cayenne Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus longipennis | Setopagis maculosa |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 27.8 cm (10.9 in) |
| Weight | 48.5 g (1.71 oz) | 47.0 g (1.66 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal moth and beetle specialist; hunts in sustained low flight over dry open country and … | Catches flying insects in aerial pursuit at night over South American forest and scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Standard-winged Nightjar only
Cayenne 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'
Cayenne Nightjar
Poorly known vocalizations; presumed churring trill based on genus; extremely rare recordings; distinct from other Setopagis by subtle tonal and rhythm differences
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.
Cayenne Nightjar
Known from a few specimens from French Guiana; possibly a rare resident of coastal forest and scrub; poorly known.
Conservation Status
Standard-winged Nightjar
Cayenne 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 …
Cayenne Nightjar
Brown and buff mottled above with dark vermiculations; pale buff below with darker barring; white throat patch in male; outer tail spots white; data deficient; known from only a handful …
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.
Cayenne Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~47 g) from coastal French Guiana and adjacent Suriname. Known from only a handful of specimens; biology essentially unknown. Mottled brown plumage presumed cryptic in leaf litter. Presumed nocturnal insectivore. Data Deficient due to extreme rarity of confirmed records in the wild.