Spotted Nightjar vs Long-trained Nightjar
Eurostopodus argus compared with Macropsalis forcipata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Spotted Nightjar | Long-trained Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eurostopodus argus | Macropsalis forcipata |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) | 45.0 cm (17.7 in) |
| Weight | 102.5 g (3.62 oz) | 111.25 g (3.92 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore; hawks large moths, beetles, and flying insects at dusk and dawn over Australian … | Aerial insectivore; hawks moths and beetles in nocturnal flight over Atlantic Forest grassland and scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 1 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Spotted Nightjar only
Long-trained Nightjar only
None
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
Long-trained Nightjar
Loud, resonant 'chuck' or 'tuck' notes; hollow knocking quality; calls from Atlantic Forest edge at night; males perform aerial display; alarm a rapid staccato bark
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.
Long-trained Nightjar
Endemic to southeastern Brazil (São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro); resident of Atlantic forest edge; vulnerable due to deforestation.
Conservation Status
Spotted Nightjar
Long-trained 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 …
Long-trained Nightjar
Male with extremely elongated outer tail feathers forming long train up to 60 cm; dark brown with buff and rufous mottling; white throat; white wing bar. Female lacks elongated tail; …
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.
Long-trained Nightjar
A large Caprimulgidae nightjar (~111 g) of subtropical Atlantic forest and open country in southeastern Brazil. Males have extraordinary forked tails extending far beyond body length. Inhabits forest edges and clearings in Atlantic Forest remnants. Feeds on moths and large insects. Least Concern; some decline with deforestation.