Archbold's Nightjar vs Malay Eared-nightjar

Eurostopodus archboldi compared with Lyncornis temminckii

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Archbold's Nightjar Malay Eared-nightjar
Scientific Name Eurostopodus archboldi Lyncornis temminckii
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Caprimulgidae Caprimulgidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 41.0 cm (16.1 in) 41.0 cm (16.1 in)
Weight 77.0 g (2.72 oz) 95.0 g (3.35 oz)
Diet Aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in nocturnal flight over New Guinea montane forest. Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches large moths and beetles in flight over SE Asian lowland forest.
Clutch Size 1 1-2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Archbold's Nightjar only

None

Malay Eared-nightjar only

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Song & Call Comparison

Archbold's Nightjar

Song

Rarely recorded; presumed churring nocturnal song; low, resonant trilling typical of genus; vocalizations scarcely documented from highland New Guinea

Malay Eared-nightjar

Song

Loud, repeated 'tock-tock-tock' or 'bonk-bonk'; hollow, wooden quality; carries well through lowland forest; alarm a sharp 'chek'; call accelerates toward end

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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.

Malay Eared-nightjar

Resident of lowland forest, forest edge, and secondary growth in Brunei, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo, up to 600 m.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Archbold's Nightjar

Least Concern

Malay Eared-nightjar

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How to Tell Them Apart

Archbold's Nightjar

Plumage

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.

Malay Eared-nightjar

Plumage

Brown and buff mottled with black vermiculations; distinctive long narrow ear-tufts projecting from crown; buff-white throat patch; no white wing spots; tail broadly barred brown and buff. Sexes similar.

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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.

Malay Eared-nightjar

A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~95 g) of forest edges, secondary growth, and plantation margins in Sundaland, including the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and the Philippines. Distinguished by small, inconspicuous ear tufts. Nocturnal aerial insectivore. Rarely observed; calls heard at night. Least Concern.

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