Andaman Nightjar vs Great Eared-nightjar
Caprimulgus andamanicus compared with Lyncornis macrotis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andaman Nightjar | Great Eared-nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus andamanicus | Lyncornis macrotis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 53.3 cm (21.0 in) |
| Weight | 66.06666666666666 g (2.33 oz) | 135.25 g (4.77 oz) |
| Diet | Night-hunting insectivore targeting moths, flying beetles, and winged ants in erratic low-altitude aerial passes. | Hawks large flying insects at night; one of the largest nightjars; forages over SE Asian … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Andaman Nightjar
Loud 'chuck-chuck-trrr'; hollow knocking prefix followed by trill; endemic to Andaman Islands; calls at night from forest edges and clearings; similar to Large-tailed
Great Eared-nightjar
Loud, far-carrying 'pee-WEERR' or 'yaak'; often repeated steadily; distinctive wailing whistle over forest; alarm a sharp 'creek'; one of Asia's largest nightjar calls
Geographic Range & Migration
Andaman Nightjar
Endemic to the Philippines including Luzon and Mindanao. Resident in lowland and submontane forest and forest edge up to 1,800 m.
Great Eared-nightjar
Resident of forest edge, open woodland, and scrub across South and Southeast Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to the Philippines and Sulawesi.
Conservation Status
Andaman Nightjar
Great Eared-nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Andaman Nightjar
Warm rufous-brown upperparts with black-centred scapulars and pale buff streaks; broad white throat patch; males show white outer tail feathers; underparts buff barred brown; endemic island coloration slightly warmer than …
Great Eared-nightjar
Largest nightjar; grey-brown and rufous with dark vermiculations; very long prominent ear-tufts; buff-orange throat; no white wing patches; boldly barred tail; rufous hues stronger than Malay congener.
About These Birds
Andaman Nightjar
A medium-sized nightjar (24-26 cm) endemic to the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Dark brown plumage with rufous collar spots. Nocturnal insectivore of lowland and mangrove forests. A sedentary species with a restricted island range.
Great Eared-nightjar
The largest nightjar of the Asian region (~135 g), family Caprimulgidae, of forest and forest edge from Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to the Philippines. Distinctive erect ear tufts give an owl-like appearance. Wingspan ~53 cm. Hunts large moths and beetles at night. Calls with eerie wailing notes. Least Concern.