Spotted Nightjar vs White-throated Nightjar
Eurostopodus argus compared with Eurostopodus mystacalis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Spotted Nightjar | White-throated Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eurostopodus argus | Eurostopodus mystacalis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) | 50.4 cm (19.8 in) |
| Weight | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) | 138.25 g (4.88 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore; hawks large moths, beetles, and flying insects at dusk and dawn over Australian … | 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
Spotted Nightjar only
None
White-throated Nightjar only
Song & Call Comparison
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
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
Spotted Nightjar
Resident and partial migrant of open woodland, grassland, and scrub across mainland Australia and migrating to New Guinea and Indonesia in winter.
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
Spotted Nightjar
White-throated Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
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
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.
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.