Cayenne Nightjar vs Lesser Band-winged Nightjar
Setopagis maculosa compared with Systellura decussata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cayenne Nightjar | Lesser Band-winged Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Setopagis maculosa | Systellura decussata |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.8 cm (10.9 in) | 26.6 cm (10.5 in) |
| Weight | 47.0 g (1.66 oz) | 31.833333333333332 g (1.12 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial pursuit at night over South American forest and scrub. | Hawks flying insects at night over Andean and coastal scrub of Peru and northern Chile. |
| 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
Lesser Band-winged Nightjar
Soft 'tyuk' phrases; lighter and higher than Greater Band-winged; gentle churring trill; calls from Pacific coastal scrub at dusk; thin, reedy alarm note
Geographic Range & Migration
Cayenne Nightjar
Known from a few specimens from French Guiana; possibly a rare resident of coastal forest and scrub; poorly known.
Lesser Band-winged Nightjar
Resident of desert scrub, rocky hillsides, and coastal pampas in Peru and northern Chile; closely associated with arid Pacific slope.
Conservation Status
Cayenne Nightjar
Lesser Band-winged Nightjar
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 …
Lesser Band-winged Nightjar
Smaller than Greater Band-winged; brown and buff mottled with dark vermiculations; white wing bar across primaries; white throat in male; buff throat in female; white outer tail spots in male; …
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.
Lesser Band-winged Nightjar
A very small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~32 g) of coastal desert scrub and rocky slopes in Peru and northern Chile. Pale-buffy with fine vermiculations and a paler wing band. Restricted to very arid Pacific-slope habitats. Nocturnal; feeds on small insects. Little studied; Least Concern in its specialised desert range.