Mees's Nightjar vs Spotted Nightjar
Caprimulgus meesi compared with Eurostopodus argus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mees's Nightjar | Spotted Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus meesi | Eurostopodus argus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.6 cm (13.2 in) | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) |
| Weight | 66.2 g (2.34 oz) | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) |
| Diet | Crepuscular and nocturnal aerial insectivore; pursues moths and flying beetles over grassland and woodland margins. | Aerial insectivore; hawks large moths, beetles, and flying insects at dusk and dawn over Australian … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Mees's Nightjar
Churring trill from Wallacean islands; repetitive hollow call; closely related to Large-tailed Nightjar; calls from coastal scrub and open woodland at dusk
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
Mees's Nightjar
Endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, primarily Timor. Resident in lowland forest, open woodland, and savanna.
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
Mees's Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Mees's Nightjar
Brown-grey upperparts with blackish crown streaks and pale buff mottling; buff-white supercilium; white chin patch; underparts barred pale buff and brown; closely resembles Large-tailed Nightjar but marginally paler.
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
Mees's Nightjar
A recently split nightjar (24-26 cm) from the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia. Closely related to the Large-tailed Nightjar but with subtly different vocalizations and plumage tones. Nocturnal insectivore of lowland forests and forest edges.
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.