Nubian Nightjar vs Spotted Nightjar
Caprimulgus nubicus compared with Eurostopodus argus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Nubian Nightjar | Spotted Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus nubicus | Eurostopodus argus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 29.6 cm (11.7 in) | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) |
| Weight | 54.8 g (1.93 oz) | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on flying insects at night, mainly moths and beetles, by coursing low over open … | Aerial insectivore; hawks large moths, beetles, and flying insects at dusk and dawn over Australian … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Nubian Nightjar only
Spotted Nightjar only
Song & Call Comparison
Nubian Nightjar
Rapid, churring trill; nasal 'churr-churr' at medium pace; calls from arid African scrub and rocky desert at night; alarm a sharp 'chek'; calls mostly near water
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
Nubian Nightjar
Found in a disjunct range across the Middle East and northeastern Africa including Israel, Egypt, Sudan, and Somalia. Resident in rocky desert.
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
Nubian Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Nubian Nightjar
Richly patterned rufous-buff and dark brown upperparts; prominent tawny-orange nuchal collar; white throat patch; males have white spots on primary tips; overall warmer tones than most African nightjars.
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
Nubian Nightjar
A small nightjar (20-22 cm) restricted to arid scrublands of the Horn of Africa and Arabian Peninsula. Pale sandy-brown plumage with fine dark markings. Nocturnal insectivore, hawking insects low over the ground. Classified as Near Threatened due to limited range.
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.