Sykes's Nightjar vs Spotted Nightjar
Caprimulgus mahrattensis compared with Eurostopodus argus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sykes's Nightjar | Spotted Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus mahrattensis | Eurostopodus argus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.9 cm (13.3 in) | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) |
| Weight | 57.0 g (2.01 oz) | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) |
| Diet | Crepuscular and nocturnal insectivore; forages by sight for moths and large flying beetles above humid … | Aerial insectivore; hawks large moths, beetles, and flying insects at dusk and dawn over Australian … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Sykes's Nightjar only
Spotted Nightjar only
Song & Call Comparison
Sykes's Nightjar
Churring trill with hollow 'chuck' interspersed; 'chuck-churr' pattern; calls from Pakistani desert scrub at night; calls during moonlit nights from sandy ground
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
Sykes's Nightjar
Found in Pakistan, northwestern India, and adjacent Iran and Afghanistan. Resident in dry scrub, rocky hillsides, and semi-desert plains.
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
Sykes's Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Sykes's Nightjar
Pale greyish-brown upperparts with intricate black-brown shaft streaks and pale buff freckling; whitish chin bar; underparts buff with sparse brown barring; resembles Egyptian but greyer overall.
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
Sykes's Nightjar
A small, pale nightjar (23 cm) of arid and semi-arid regions from Iran through Pakistan to western India. Sandy-grey plumage blends with desert terrain. Nocturnal insectivore, feeding on moths and beetles while in buoyant flight. Resident and partial 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.