Heinrich's Nightjar vs White-throated Nightjar
Eurostopodus diabolicus compared with Eurostopodus mystacalis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Heinrich's Nightjar | White-throated Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eurostopodus diabolicus | Eurostopodus mystacalis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 39.9 cm (15.7 in) | 50.4 cm (19.8 in) |
| Weight | 104.0 g (3.67 oz) | 138.25 g (4.88 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in flight over Sulawesi forest; poorly known. | 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
Heinrich's Nightjar only
None
White-throated Nightjar only
Song & Call Comparison
Heinrich's Nightjar
Haunting, hollow 'ku-WOO' repeated rhythmically; deep resonant quality; distinctive mournful whistle carrying through Sulawesi forest at night
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
Heinrich's Nightjar
Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia; resident of montane forest; extremely rare and poorly known, with very few records.
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
Heinrich's Nightjar
White-throated Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Heinrich's Nightjar
Rufous-brown and dark brown mottled with buff vermiculations; large pale buff throat patch; pale buff supercilium; no white wing markings; tail darkly barred brown and buff. Poorly known; Sulawesi endemic.
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
Heinrich's Nightjar
A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~104 g) endemic to the forest and forest-edge habitats of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Cryptically patterned brown-and-buff. Nocturnal insectivore; catches moths and beetles in aerial sallies. Little studied and rarely encountered in the field. Least Concern within its Sulawesi range.
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.