Andaman Nightjar vs Pennant-winged Nightjar
Caprimulgus andamanicus compared with Caprimulgus vexillarius
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andaman Nightjar | Pennant-winged Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus andamanicus | Caprimulgus vexillarius |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 41.4 cm (16.3 in) |
| Weight | 66.06666666666666 g (2.33 oz) | 189.70000000000002 g (6.69 oz) |
| Diet | Night-hunting insectivore targeting moths, flying beetles, and winged ants in erratic low-altitude aerial passes. | Crepuscular forager targeting moths, termites, and large beetles; patrols forest edges and clearings at dusk. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Andaman Nightjar
Loud 'chuck-chuck-trrr'; hollow knocking prefix followed by trill; endemic to Andaman Islands; calls at night from forest edges and clearings; similar to Large-tailed
Pennant-winged Nightjar
Melodic whistled churring; cleaner, more musical than most African nightjars; male's display call a repeated mellow whistle; calls at dusk across miombo woodland
Geographic Range & Migration
Andaman Nightjar
Endemic to the Philippines including Luzon and Mindanao. Resident in lowland and submontane forest and forest edge up to 1,800 m.
Pennant-winged Nightjar
Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Guinea east to Ethiopia and south to Angola. Resident in dry savanna, open woodland, and Sahel scrubland.
Conservation Status
Andaman Nightjar
Pennant-winged Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Andaman Nightjar
Warm rufous-brown upperparts with black-centred scapulars and pale buff streaks; broad white throat patch; males show white outer tail feathers; underparts buff barred brown; endemic island coloration slightly warmer than …
Pennant-winged Nightjar
Large; dark brown and black upperparts with white wing-covert spots; large white primary patches visible in flight; breeding males grow extraordinary white pennant-shaped ninth primary extensions reaching 50 cm; females …
About These Birds
Andaman Nightjar
A medium-sized nightjar (24-26 cm) endemic to the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Dark brown plumage with rufous collar spots. Nocturnal insectivore of lowland and mangrove forests. A sedentary species with a restricted island range.
Pennant-winged Nightjar
A spectacular nightjar (24-28 cm) of southern African open woodlands. Breeding males develop extraordinary elongated innermost primary feathers trailing as white pennants up to 60 cm long during courtship display flights. Nocturnal insectivore; a long-distance intra-African migrant.