Cayenne Nightjar vs Jamaican Poorwill
Setopagis maculosa compared with Siphonorhis americana
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cayenne Nightjar | Jamaican Poorwill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Setopagis maculosa | Siphonorhis americana |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Data Deficient | Not Evaluated |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.8 cm (10.9 in) | 27.0 cm (10.6 in) |
| Weight | 47.0 g (1.66 oz) | 55.4 g (1.95 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial pursuit at night over South American forest and scrub. | Caught flying insects at night in Jamaican dry forest; presumed extinct since 19th century. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Cayenne Nightjar
Poorly known vocalizations; presumed churring trill based on genus; extremely rare recordings; distinct from other Setopagis by subtle tonal and rhythm differences
Jamaican Poorwill
Possibly extinct; historically described as soft 'wheep-wheep'; whistled, purring call from dry limestone forest; no modern recordings exist
Geographic Range & Migration
Cayenne Nightjar
Known from a few specimens from French Guiana; possibly a rare resident of coastal forest and scrub; poorly known.
Jamaican Poorwill
Endemic to Jamaica; possibly extinct; known from historical specimens; no confirmed records since the 19th century.
Conservation Status
Cayenne Nightjar
Jamaican Poorwill
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
Jamaican Poorwill
Brown and rufous mottled above with dark vermiculations; pale buff below with dark barring; white throat patch in male; buff and dark barred tail; no white wing patches. Closely resembles …
About These Birds
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.
Jamaican Poorwill
A medium Caprimulgidae poorwill (~55 g) endemic to Jamaica; possibly extinct or extremely rare. Last confirmed record in 1860; reported subsequently but never verified. Inhabited dry limestone scrub forest. Cryptic mottled plumage. Presumed nocturnal insectivore. Not currently evaluated by IUCN.