Heinrich's Nightjar vs Least Poorwill
Eurostopodus diabolicus compared with Siphonorhis brewsteri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Heinrich's Nightjar | Least Poorwill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eurostopodus diabolicus | Siphonorhis brewsteri |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 39.9 cm (15.7 in) | 22.7 cm (8.9 in) |
| Weight | 104.0 g (3.67 oz) | 44.0 g (1.55 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in flight over Sulawesi forest; poorly known. | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches small flying insects near ground over Hispaniolan dry scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Heinrich's Nightjar
Haunting, hollow 'ku-WOO' repeated rhythmically; deep resonant quality; distinctive mournful whistle carrying through Sulawesi forest at night
Least Poorwill
Soft, melodic 'poor-will' whistle; gentle and repetitive; calls from dry scrub at night; higher-pitched than Common Poorwill; subtle and often overlooked
Geographic Range & Migration
Heinrich's Nightjar
Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia; resident of montane forest; extremely rare and poorly known, with very few records.
Least Poorwill
Endemic to Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic); resident of open dry forest and scrub; rare and sparsely distributed.
Conservation Status
Heinrich's Nightjar
Least Poorwill
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.
Least Poorwill
Small; brown and buff mottled with fine dark vermiculations; pale buff throat bordered by dark lateral spots; buff and dark barred tail; no white in wings or tail; male with …
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.
Least Poorwill
A small Caprimulgidae poorwill (~44 g) of dry scrub and thorn woodland in Hispaniola. Brown-and-buff cryptic plumage. Little studied; biology poorly known for this island endemic. Feeds on insects at night. Near Threatened owing to ongoing habitat degradation and deforestation on Hispaniola. Rarely encountered.