Salvadori's Nightjar vs Spotted Nightjar
Caprimulgus pulchellus compared with Eurostopodus argus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Salvadori's Nightjar | Spotted Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus pulchellus | Eurostopodus argus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.8 cm (12.1 in) | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) |
| Weight | 57.5 g (2.03 oz) | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) |
| Diet | Strictly nocturnal aerial forager targeting moths and large beetles; hunts by sight in low, erratic … | 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
Salvadori's Nightjar only
Spotted Nightjar only
Song & Call Comparison
Salvadori's Nightjar
Churring trill; repetitive 'chrrr' from Sumatran highland forest; calls at night from mossy forest understory; moderate pitch; similar to but separable from Bornean species
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
Salvadori's Nightjar
Known from a single specimen from the eastern DRC. One of Africa's rarest birds; range and habitat entirely unknown. Possibly highland forest.
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
Salvadori's Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Salvadori's Nightjar
Attractively patterned dark brown and buff upperparts; warm buff supercilium and throat patch; rufous-buff spotting on wing coverts; underparts barred buff; montane Sundaland endemic with relatively rich coloration.
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
Salvadori's Nightjar
A medium-sized nightjar (24-26 cm) endemic to montane forests of Sumatra and Java, Indonesia. Dark brown plumage with rufous collar patches. Nocturnal insectivore of high-altitude forests above 1,000 m. Classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss in montane regions.
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.