Common Poorwill vs Cayenne Nightjar

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii comparé à Setopagis maculosa

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Common Poorwill Cayenne Nightjar
Nom scientifique Phalaenoptilus nuttallii Setopagis maculosa
Ordre Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Famille Caprimulgidae Caprimulgidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Data Deficient
Longueur
Envergure 28,8 cm (11.3 in) 27,8 cm (10.9 in)
Poids 46,45 g (1.64 oz) 47,0 g (1.66 oz)
Régime alimentaire Catches moths, beetles, and flying insects on short sallies near ground; only bird known to … Catches flying insects in aerial pursuit at night over South American forest and scrub.
Taille de la couvée 2 1-2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Common Poorwill only

Cayenne Nightjar only

Aucun(e)

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Song & Call Comparison

Common Poorwill

Chant

Clear, whistled 'poor-WILL' with burry quality; sometimes 'poor-will-ip'; carries well across desert scrub; may call thousands of times in a night; males very persistent

Cayenne Nightjar

Chant

Poorly known vocalizations; presumed churring trill based on genus; extremely rare recordings; distinct from other Setopagis by subtle tonal and rhythm differences

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Geographic Range & Migration

Common Poorwill

Resident of arid scrub, sagebrush, and chaparral in western North America from British Columbia south to central Mexico; only hibernating bird.

Cayenne Nightjar

Known from a few specimens from French Guiana; possibly a rare resident of coastal forest and scrub; poorly known.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Common Poorwill

Data Deficient

Cayenne Nightjar

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How to Tell Them Apart

Common Poorwill

Plumage

Grey-brown and buff mottled with dark vermiculations; white throat patch bordered by dark collar; pale buff and dark barred underparts; white tips on outer tail feathers; no white wing patches; …

Cayenne Nightjar

Plumage

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 …

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About These Birds

Common Poorwill

A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~46 g) of arid shrubland and rocky desert from southwestern Canada to central Mexico. The only bird known to enter true torpor for extended periods (weeks) as a winter survival strategy. Cryptic grey-brown plumage. Feeds on moths and beetles at night. Least Concern.

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.

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