Andaman Nightjar vs Greater Band-winged Nightjar
Caprimulgus andamanicus compared with Systellura longirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andaman Nightjar | Greater Band-winged Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus andamanicus | Systellura longirostris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 31.0 cm (12.2 in) |
| Weight | 66.06666666666666 g (2.33 oz) | 45.666666666666664 g (1.61 oz) |
| Diet | Night-hunting insectivore targeting moths, flying beetles, and winged ants in erratic low-altitude aerial passes. | Aerial insectivore; catches moths and flying insects at night over South American open and scrubby … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| 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
Greater Band-winged Nightjar
Repeated 'tyuk-tyuk' or 'chuck-will'; whistled, melodic phrase; calls from Andean slopes and scrub; alarm a sharp bark; cleaner tone than lowland nightjars
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.
Greater Band-winged Nightjar
Resident of open rocky slopes and Andean scrub from Ecuador south through Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina to Patagonia and the Falkland Islands.
Conservation Status
Andaman Nightjar
Greater Band-winged 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 …
Greater Band-winged Nightjar
Brown and grey mottled with dark brown and buff vermiculations; white wing bar across primaries forming band pattern in flight; white throat in male; buff throat in female; white outer …
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.
Greater Band-winged Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~46 g) of open scrub, grassland, and rocky slopes from Argentina northward through the Andes to Colombia. Brown-and-buff cryptic plumage with a pale wing bar. Highly vocal at night in Andean valleys. Feeds on insects aerially. Least Concern across its wide South American range.