Archbold's Nightjar vs Choco Poorwill
Eurostopodus archboldi compared with Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Archbold's Nightjar | Choco Poorwill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eurostopodus archboldi | Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.0 cm (16.1 in) | 24.8 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 77.0 g (2.72 oz) | 49.65 g (1.75 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in nocturnal flight over New Guinea montane forest. | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and small insects in flight over Pacific Chocó forest. |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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
Choco Poorwill
Soft, purring 'poor-will' whistle; gentle repetitive phrases from humid Pacific forest; calls from low perch at night; higher and thinner than Common Poorwill
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.
Choco Poorwill
Resident of lowland Pacific rainforest and forest edge in northwestern Colombia and northwestern Ecuador (Chocó region).
Conservation Status
Archbold's Nightjar
Choco Poorwill
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.
Choco Poorwill
Brown and rufous mottled above with dark vermiculations; pale buff below with brown barring; white throat patch in male; small white spots on outer tail in male; no white wing …
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.
Choco Poorwill
A small Caprimulgidae poorwill (~50 g) of humid lowland and foothill rainforest in the Choco region of Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Mottled brown-and-buff plumage blends with forest floor. Secretive nocturnal insectivore; rarely seen. Calls with a repeated whistled note. Least Concern in its humid forest habitat.