Madagascar Nightjar vs Spotted Nightjar
Caprimulgus madagascariensis compared with Eurostopodus argus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Madagascar Nightjar | Spotted Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus madagascariensis | Eurostopodus argus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.4 cm (12.0 in) | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) |
| Weight | 42.333333333333336 g (1.49 oz) | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) |
| Diet | Crepuscular and nocturnal moth specialist; supplements diet with beetles and flying termites over open woodland. | Aerial insectivore; hawks large moths, beetles, and flying insects at dusk and dawn over Australian … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Madagascar Nightjar
Churring call from Madagascar scrub; rhythmic 'trrr-trrr' at moderate tempo; endemic; calls at dusk and dawn from open woodland and hedgerows; alarm a sharp click
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
Madagascar Nightjar
Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. Resident in swampy grassland and wetland margins.
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
Madagascar Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Madagascar Nightjar
Brown upperparts intricately patterned with black streaks and pale tawny freckles; buff-white throat band; underparts finely barred buff and dark brown; island endemic with slightly warmer coloration than continental African …
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
Madagascar Nightjar
A medium-sized nightjar (23-25 cm) endemic to Madagascar. Brown plumage with cryptic patterning for camouflage on the forest floor. Found in a variety of habitats from dry deciduous to humid rainforest. Nocturnal insectivore, feeding on moths and beetles in forest openings.
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.