Mees's Nightjar vs Heinrich's Nightjar
Caprimulgus meesi compared with Eurostopodus diabolicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mees's Nightjar | Heinrich's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus meesi | Eurostopodus diabolicus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.6 cm (13.2 in) | 39.9 cm (15.7 in) |
| Weight | 66.2 g (2.34 oz) | 104.0 g (3.67 oz) |
| Diet | Crepuscular and nocturnal aerial insectivore; pursues moths and flying beetles over grassland and woodland margins. | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in flight over Sulawesi forest; poorly known. |
| 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
Heinrich's Nightjar
Haunting, hollow 'ku-WOO' repeated rhythmically; deep resonant quality; distinctive mournful whistle carrying through Sulawesi forest at night
Geographic Range & Migration
Mees's Nightjar
Endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, primarily Timor. Resident in lowland forest, open woodland, and savanna.
Heinrich's Nightjar
Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia; resident of montane forest; extremely rare and poorly known, with very few records.
Conservation Status
Mees's Nightjar
Heinrich's 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.
Heinrich's Nightjar
Rufous-brown and dark brown mottled with buff vermiculations; large pale buff throat patch; pale buff supercilium; no white wing markings; tail darkly barred brown and buff. Poorly known; Sulawesi endemic.
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.
Heinrich's Nightjar
A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~104 g) endemic to the forest and forest-edge habitats of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Cryptically patterned brown-and-buff. Nocturnal insectivore; catches moths and beetles in aerial sallies. Little studied and rarely encountered in the field. Least Concern within its Sulawesi range.