Fiery-necked Nightjar vs Cayenne Nightjar
Caprimulgus pectoralis compared with Setopagis maculosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Fiery-necked Nightjar | Cayenne Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus pectoralis | Setopagis maculosa |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.9 cm (12.6 in) | 27.8 cm (10.9 in) |
| Weight | 52.083333333333336 g (1.84 oz) | 47.0 g (1.66 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds at dusk and night on moths and large flying beetles caught in aerial sallies … | Catches flying insects in aerial pursuit at night over South American forest and scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Rich, melodic 'good-lord-deliver-us'; beautiful flute-like whistled phrase; most musical of African nightjars; calls from savanna woodland at dusk; unmistakable song
Cayenne Nightjar
Poorly known vocalizations; presumed churring trill based on genus; extremely rare recordings; distinct from other Setopagis by subtle tonal and rhythm differences
Geographic Range & Migration
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Found in East Africa from Ethiopia south to Tanzania on mountain ranges. Resident in montane moorland and forest edge at 1,500–4,000 m.
Cayenne Nightjar
Known from a few specimens from French Guiana; possibly a rare resident of coastal forest and scrub; poorly known.
Conservation Status
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Cayenne Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Distinctive bold orange-rufous hindneck collar contrasting with dark brown crown; upperparts brown with black streaks and buff mottling; white throat patch; males show white outer tail spots; Africa's most recognisable …
Cayenne Nightjar
Brown and buff mottled above with dark vermiculations; pale buff below with darker barring; white throat patch in male; outer tail spots white; data deficient; known from only a handful …
About These Birds
Fiery-necked Nightjar
A medium-sized nightjar (23-25 cm) widespread across sub-Saharan African woodlands and savanna. Rich brown plumage with a bold rufous collar. Named for its extraordinary, unmistakable song: a prolonged, melodic good-lord-deliver-us call. Nocturnal insectivore; resident.
Cayenne Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~47 g) from coastal French Guiana and adjacent Suriname. Known from only a handful of specimens; biology essentially unknown. Mottled brown plumage presumed cryptic in leaf litter. Presumed nocturnal insectivore. Data Deficient due to extreme rarity of confirmed records in the wild.