Archbold's Nightjar vs White-throated Nightjar
Eurostopodus archboldi compared with Eurostopodus mystacalis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Archbold's Nightjar | White-throated Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eurostopodus archboldi | Eurostopodus mystacalis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.0 cm (16.1 in) | 50.4 cm (19.8 in) |
| Weight | 77.0 g (2.72 oz) | 138.25 g (4.88 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in nocturnal flight over New Guinea montane forest. | Catches large flying insects, especially moths and beetles, in aerial sallies over Australian and Pacific … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Archbold's Nightjar only
None
White-throated Nightjar only
Song & Call Comparison
Archbold's Nightjar
Rarely recorded; presumed churring nocturnal song; low, resonant trilling typical of genus; vocalizations scarcely documented from highland New Guinea
White-throated Nightjar
Resonant, churring song; rapid 'good-lord-deliver-us' or 'chaw-chaw-chaw'; low, bubbling trill carrying through rainforest; softer than related species
Geographic Range & Migration
Archbold's Nightjar
Resident of montane forest in central New Guinea (Snow Mountains and Star Mountains) above 1,500 m; very poorly known.
White-throated Nightjar
Resident of open woodland and scrub in eastern and northern Australia; also found on offshore islands and in southern New Guinea.
Conservation Status
Archbold's Nightjar
White-throated Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Archbold's Nightjar
Brown and dark grey with rufous-buff vermiculations; whitish throat patch; pale buff supercilium contrasts with darker crown; no white wing or tail patches; tail barred; New Guinea highlands; few records.
White-throated Nightjar
Grey-brown with rufous and black mottling; large bold white throat patch distinctive; no white wing spots or tail markings; well-camouflaged on bark. Male and female similar; one of the larger …
About These Birds
Archbold's Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~77 g) known from subalpine grasslands and forest margins in the interior mountains of New Guinea. Named after naturalist Richard Archbold. Cryptic brown-patterned plumage. Nocturnal insectivore. Infrequently observed; biology largely undescribed. Least Concern in its montane range.
White-throated Nightjar
A large Caprimulgidae nightjar (~138 g) of open forest and woodland in eastern Australia and coastal New Guinea. A white throat patch contrasts with cryptic brown-patterned plumage. Roosts on the ground or along branches by day; hunts moths and large beetles at night. Partially migratory in southeast Australia. Least Concern.