Rufous-bellied Nighthawk vs Cayenne Nightjar
Lurocalis rufiventris compared with Setopagis maculosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rufous-bellied Nighthawk | Cayenne Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lurocalis rufiventris | Setopagis maculosa |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 40.6 cm (16.0 in) | 27.8 cm (10.9 in) |
| Weight | 104.5 g (3.69 oz) | 47.0 g (1.66 oz) |
| Diet | Catches large flying insects in nocturnal aerial pursuit over Andean forest and forest edge. | Catches flying insects in aerial pursuit at night over South American forest and scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Rufous-bellied Nighthawk
Deep, hollow 'wok-wok' series; resonant frog-like calls from Andean forest canopy; lower in pitch than Short-tailed Nighthawk; carries across mountain valleys
Cayenne Nightjar
Poorly known vocalizations; presumed churring trill based on genus; extremely rare recordings; distinct from other Setopagis by subtle tonal and rhythm differences
Geographic Range & Migration
Rufous-bellied Nighthawk
Resident of Andean foothills and montane forest edge from Colombia and Venezuela south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia, at 500–2,000 m.
Cayenne Nightjar
Known from a few specimens from French Guiana; possibly a rare resident of coastal forest and scrub; poorly known.
Conservation Status
Rufous-bellied Nighthawk
Cayenne Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Rufous-bellied Nighthawk
Dark sooty-brown above with buff and chestnut spotting; distinctive rufous-orange belly contrasting with dark breast; no white wing bar; short rounded tail; rufous tone on underparts unique among nighthawks.
Cayenne Nightjar
Brown and buff mottled above with dark vermiculations; pale buff below with darker barring; white throat patch in male; outer tail spots white; data deficient; known from only a handful …
About These Birds
Rufous-bellied Nighthawk
A medium Caprimulgidae nighthawk (~105 g) of montane forest edges and humid foothill zones from Colombia to Bolivia. Rufous underparts contrast with dark upperparts; a white throat patch is visible. Hawk-like flight above the forest at dusk and dawn. Seldom recorded; biology little known. Least Concern.
Cayenne Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~47 g) from coastal French Guiana and adjacent Suriname. Known from only a handful of specimens; biology essentially unknown. Mottled brown plumage presumed cryptic in leaf litter. Presumed nocturnal insectivore. Data Deficient due to extreme rarity of confirmed records in the wild.