Archbold's Nightjar vs Least Poorwill
Eurostopodus archboldi compared with Siphonorhis brewsteri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Archbold's Nightjar | Least Poorwill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eurostopodus archboldi | Siphonorhis brewsteri |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.0 cm (16.1 in) | 22.7 cm (8.9 in) |
| Weight | 77.0 g (2.72 oz) | 44.0 g (1.55 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in nocturnal flight over New Guinea montane forest. | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches small flying insects near ground over Hispaniolan dry scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Archbold's Nightjar
Rarely recorded; presumed churring nocturnal song; low, resonant trilling typical of genus; vocalizations scarcely documented from highland New Guinea
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
Archbold's Nightjar
Resident of montane forest in central New Guinea (Snow Mountains and Star Mountains) above 1,500 m; very poorly known.
Least Poorwill
Endemic to Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic); resident of open dry forest and scrub; rare and sparsely distributed.
Conservation Status
Archbold's Nightjar
Least Poorwill
How to Tell Them Apart
Archbold's Nightjar
Brown and dark grey with rufous-buff vermiculations; whitish throat patch; pale buff supercilium contrasts with darker crown; no white wing or tail patches; tail barred; New Guinea highlands; few records.
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
Archbold's Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~77 g) known from subalpine grasslands and forest margins in the interior mountains of New Guinea. Named after naturalist Richard Archbold. Cryptic brown-patterned plumage. Nocturnal insectivore. Infrequently observed; biology largely undescribed. Least Concern in its montane 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.