Freckled Nightjar vs Cayenne Nightjar
Caprimulgus tristigma compared with Setopagis maculosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Freckled Nightjar | Cayenne Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus tristigma | Setopagis maculosa |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.4 cm (13.5 in) | 27.8 cm (10.9 in) |
| Weight | 79.88333333333334 g (2.82 oz) | 47.0 g (1.66 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal aerial insectivore, hawking moths, beetles, and other flying insects in sustained sallying flight over … | Catches flying insects in aerial pursuit at night over South American forest and scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Freckled Nightjar
Loud, dog-like 'bow-wow' or 'woof-woof'; unusual barking call for a nightjar; carries across rocky African outcrops; alarm a sharp 'chek'; distinctive among all nightjars
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
Freckled Nightjar
Found in Borneo and Sumatra in lowland rainforest and peat swamp forest. Rare and seldom recorded; possibly resident year-round.
Cayenne Nightjar
Known from a few specimens from French Guiana; possibly a rare resident of coastal forest and scrub; poorly known.
Conservation Status
Freckled Nightjar
Cayenne Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Freckled Nightjar
Heavily freckled dark grey and black upperparts resembling granite surfaces; whitish throat patch; underparts densely barred dark and pale; uniquely dark stone-coloured cryptic plumage adapted to rocky outcrops in Africa.
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
Freckled Nightjar
A medium-sized nightjar (25-28 cm) found on rocky outcrops and boulder-strewn hillsides across sub-Saharan Africa. Distinctively speckled grey and brown plumage resembling lichen-covered rock. Crepuscular and nocturnal insectivore. Resident, with one of the most camouflaged plumages among nightjars.
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.