Archbold's Nightjar vs Common Poorwill
Eurostopodus archboldi compared with Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Archbold's Nightjar | Common Poorwill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eurostopodus archboldi | Phalaenoptilus nuttallii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.0 cm (16.1 in) | 28.8 cm (11.3 in) |
| Weight | 77.0 g (2.72 oz) | 46.45 g (1.64 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in nocturnal flight over New Guinea montane forest. | Catches moths, beetles, and flying insects on short sallies near ground; only bird known to … |
| Clutch Size | 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
Common Poorwill
Clear, whistled 'poor-WILL' with burry quality; sometimes 'poor-will-ip'; carries well across desert scrub; may call thousands of times in a night; males very persistent
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.
Common Poorwill
Resident of arid scrub, sagebrush, and chaparral in western North America from British Columbia south to central Mexico; only hibernating bird.
Conservation Status
Archbold's Nightjar
Common 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.
Common Poorwill
Grey-brown and buff mottled with dark vermiculations; white throat patch bordered by dark collar; pale buff and dark barred underparts; white tips on outer tail feathers; no white wing patches; …
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.
Common Poorwill
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~46 g) of arid shrubland and rocky desert from southwestern Canada to central Mexico. The only bird known to enter true torpor for extended periods (weeks) as a winter survival strategy. Cryptic grey-brown plumage. Feeds on moths and beetles at night. Least Concern.