Nechisar Nightjar vs Heinrich's Nightjar
Caprimulgus solala compared with Eurostopodus diabolicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Nechisar Nightjar | Heinrich's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus solala | Eurostopodus diabolicus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.0 cm (14.6 in) | 39.9 cm (15.7 in) |
| Weight | 79.0 g (2.79 oz) | 104.0 g (3.67 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; hawks moths and flying beetles over arid scrubland and rocky desert 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
Nechisar Nightjar
Virtually unknown vocalizations; known only from a single wing feather; presumed churring song; critically rare Ethiopian endemic with essentially undescribed call
Heinrich's Nightjar
Haunting, hollow 'ku-WOO' repeated rhythmically; deep resonant quality; distinctive mournful whistle carrying through Sulawesi forest at night
Geographic Range & Migration
Nechisar Nightjar
Found across the Sahel from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to Uganda and Kenya. Resident in open savanna and dry grassland.
Heinrich's Nightjar
Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia; resident of montane forest; extremely rare and poorly known, with very few records.
Conservation Status
Nechisar Nightjar
Heinrich's Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Nechisar Nightjar
Known from a single wing feather specimen; dark brownish-black with pale buff and tawny mottling; intricate fine vermiculations consistent with Caprimulgus pattern; extremely poorly known Ethiopian endemic.
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
Nechisar Nightjar
An enigmatic and critically rare nightjar known from a single specimen and feather samples collected in the Nechisar Plains of southern Ethiopia in 1990. No confirmed sightings since. Classified as Critically Endangered. Its ecology, range, and population remain virtually unknown.
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.