Nachtigall vs Dunenspecht

Luscinia megarhynchos verglichen mit Picoides pubescens

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Merkmal Nachtigall Dunenspecht
Wissenschaftlicher Name Luscinia megarhynchos Picoides pubescens
Ordnung Passeriformes Piciformes
Familie Muscicapidae Picidae
Erhaltungsstatus Least Concern Least Concern
Länge 16,5 cm (6.5 in) 16,0 cm (6.3 in)
Flügelspannweite 25,0 cm (9.8 in) 28,0 cm (11.0 in)
Gewicht 21,0 g (0.74 oz) 27,0 g (0.95 oz)
Ernährung Insects and larvae, supplemented with berries in autumn. Forages on or near the ground in … Insects and larvae extracted from bark, supplemented with seeds, berries, and suet at feeders. Often …
Gelegegröße 4-5 --
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Nachtigall 16,5 cm
Dunenspecht 16,0 cm
Flügelspannweite
Nachtigall 25,0 cm
Dunenspecht 28,0 cm
Gewicht
Nachtigall 21,0 g
Dunenspecht 27,0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Gemeinsame Lebensräume

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Nachtigall only

Dunenspecht only

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Nachtigall

Dense thickets, scrub, and undergrowth in deciduous woodland. Prefers areas with thick ground cover near water.

Dunenspecht

Deciduous and mixed forests, orchards, parks, and suburban areas. The most common woodpecker at feeders in North America.

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Song & Call Comparison

Nachtigall

Gesang

Considered Europe's finest songster: an extraordinarily rich, loud, flute-like melody of bubbling trills, slow whistles, and a distinctive crescendo 'lu-lu-lu'. Sings day and night.

Dunenspecht

Gesang

A sharp 'pik' or 'peek' contact call. Drums on resonant branches with a rapid, light tattoo — softer than larger woodpeckers. Also gives a high descending whinny 'keeer-keeer'.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Nachtigall

Breeds in Europe and western Asia. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa. A long-distance migrant crossing the Sahara.

Dunenspecht

North America from Alaska and Canada south through the United States, excluding the arid Southwest.

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Erhaltungsstatus

Least Concern

Nachtigall

Least Concern

Dunenspecht

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How to Tell Them Apart

Nachtigall

Gefieder

Plain warm brown upperparts with a rufous-chestnut tail. Pale greyish-white underparts. Unremarkable appearance belies its remarkable voice.

Schnabel

Thin, pointed, dark brown bill

Dunenspecht

Gefieder

Black and white plumage with a broad white stripe down the back. Black wings with white spots. Males have a small red patch on the nape.

Schnabel

Short, chisel-shaped, dark bill — noticeably shorter than the similar hairy woodpecker

Key Differences

  • • Weight: Common Nightingale (21g) vs Downy Woodpecker (27g)
  • • Length: Common Nightingale (16.5 cm) vs Downy Woodpecker (16 cm)
  • • Wingspan: Common Nightingale (25 cm) vs Downy Woodpecker (28 cm)
  • • Family: Common Nightingale (Muscicapidae) vs Downy Woodpecker (Picidae)
  • • Habitat: Common Nightingale prefers Dense thickets, scrub, and undergrowth in deciduous woodland; Downy Woodpecker prefers Deciduous and mixed forests, orchards, parks, and suburban a
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About These Birds

Nachtigall

Die Nachtigall gilt als einer der begabtesten Sänger der Vogelwelt und hat Dichter von Homer bis Keats inspiriert. Männchen singen komplexe Strophen mit über 250 verschiedenen Typen, oft nachts während der Brutzeit. Trotz ihres berühmten Gesangs ist die Nachtigall unscheinbar gefärbt und hält sich verborgen im dichten Unterholz auf.

Dunenspecht

Der Dunenspecht ist der kleinste und am weitesten verbreitete Specht Nordamerikas. Seine geringe Größe erlaubt ihm die Nahrungssuche an dünnen Zweigen und Pflanzenstängeln, die größeren Spechten unzugänglich sind. Im Winter schließt sich der Dunenspecht häufig gemischten Vogelschwärmen an und profitiert von der erhöhten Wachsamkeit mehrerer Arten gegenüber Fressfeinden.

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