Nubian Nightjar vs Heinrich's Nightjar
Caprimulgus nubicus compared with Eurostopodus diabolicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Nubian Nightjar | Heinrich's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus nubicus | Eurostopodus diabolicus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 29.6 cm (11.7 in) | 39.9 cm (15.7 in) |
| Weight | 54.8 g (1.93 oz) | 104.0 g (3.67 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on flying insects at night, mainly moths and beetles, by coursing low over open … | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in flight over Sulawesi forest; poorly known. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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
Heinrich's Nightjar
Haunting, hollow 'ku-WOO' repeated rhythmically; deep resonant quality; distinctive mournful whistle carrying through Sulawesi forest at night
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.
Heinrich's Nightjar
Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia; resident of montane forest; extremely rare and poorly known, with very few records.
Conservation Status
Nubian Nightjar
Heinrich's 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.
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
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.
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.