Bates's Nightjar vs Spotted Nightjar

Caprimulgus batesi comparé à Eurostopodus argus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Bates's Nightjar Spotted Nightjar
Nom scientifique Caprimulgus batesi Eurostopodus argus
Ordre Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Famille Caprimulgidae Caprimulgidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 37,1 cm (14.6 in) 42,7 cm (16.8 in)
Poids 100,5 g (3.55 oz) 102,5 g (3.62 oz)
Régime alimentaire Nighttime aerial hunter of moths and large beetles; forages in low-level coursing flight above grassland … Aerial insectivore; hawks large moths, beetles, and flying insects at dusk and dawn over Australian …
Taille de la couvée 1 1
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Bates's Nightjar only

Aucun(e)

Spotted Nightjar only

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Song & Call Comparison

Bates's Nightjar

Chant

Deep, resonant churring trill; one of larger African Caprimulgus; low hollow 'churrrr' from Central African rainforest; calls at night from dense lowland forest

Spotted Nightjar

Chant

Loud churring 'good-lord-deliver-us' repeated at dusk; melodic bubbling quality; also emits hollow 'cow-cow-cow' series and soft frog-like croaking

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Geographic Range & Migration

Bates's Nightjar

Found across West Africa from Gambia east to Sudan and south to the DRC. Resident in open savanna. Male has spectacular elongated tail feathers.

Spotted Nightjar

Resident and partial migrant of open woodland, grassland, and scrub across mainland Australia and migrating to New Guinea and Indonesia in winter.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Bates's Nightjar

Least Concern

Spotted Nightjar

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How to Tell Them Apart

Bates's Nightjar

Plumage

Large and very dark; blackish-brown upperparts with minimal pale patterning; small white throat spot; underparts dark brown with buff barring; one of the darkest nightjars, inhabiting dense Central African rainforests.

Spotted Nightjar

Plumage

Cryptically mottled grey-brown, rufous, and black with intricate vermiculations; distinctive large white spots on wing coverts; white throat patch; no white in wings or tail. Sexes similar with slight pattern …

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About These Birds

Bates's Nightjar

A medium-sized nightjar (24-26 cm) of lowland primary rainforest in the Gulf of Guinea region of West and Central Africa. Dark brown plumage. Nocturnal insectivore, feeding in the forest interior. Poorly known due to secretive habits and dense forest habitat.

Spotted Nightjar

A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~103 g) of open woodland, spinifex grassland, and rocky ridges across mainland Australia. Intricately spotted and barred brown, grey, and buff. Cryptic by day on the ground among leaf litter. Crepuscular and nocturnal; feeds on flying insects caught in aerial pursuit. Least Concern.

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