Nacunda Nighthawk vs Spotted Nightjar
Chordeiles nacunda compared with Eurostopodus argus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Nacunda Nighthawk | Spotted Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles nacunda | Eurostopodus argus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 47.6 cm (18.7 in) | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) |
| Weight | 157.0 g (5.54 oz) | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore; forages in flocks hawking flying insects over South American grassland and open country. | 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
Nacunda Nighthawk only
Spotted Nightjar only
Song & Call Comparison
Nacunda Nighthawk
Deep, booming 'na-KUN-da' or 'woop-woop'; low-pitched buzzy calls; wings produce loud rattling sound in display; louder than most nighthawks
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
Nacunda Nighthawk
Resident of open savanna, grassland, and scrub from Colombia and Venezuela south through Brazil to Argentina; partially nomadic.
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
Nacunda Nighthawk
Spotted Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Nacunda Nighthawk
Large nighthawk; brown above with buff mottling; white throat and belly contrasting strongly with dark breast; bold white wing bar across primaries visible in flight; white tail band. Female has …
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
Nacunda Nighthawk
The largest New World nighthawk (~157 g), family Caprimulgidae, of open savanna and grassland in South America east of the Andes. White belly is conspicuous in flight. Highly gregarious; roosts and hunts in flocks. Crepuscular and nocturnal aerial insectivore. Partially migratory in austral winter. Least Concern.
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.