Tawny-collared Nightjar vs Antillean Nighthawk
Antrostomus salvini compared with Chordeiles gundlachii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tawny-collared Nightjar | Antillean Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Antrostomus salvini | Chordeiles gundlachii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.8 cm (13.3 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 56.0 g (1.98 oz) | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore; hawks moths and beetles at night over Central American forest and forest edge. | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Tawny-collared Nightjar
Loud 'WHEEP' or 'weet' repeated at intervals; sharp, whistled call; carries through Mexican highland forest; higher-pitched than Chuck-will's-widow; distinctive sharp quality
Antillean Nighthawk
Distinctive 'kill-and-dee-dick' or 'killydee'; buzzy nasal call audible overhead; faster and shorter phrasing than Common Nighthawk; Caribbean accent clear
Geographic Range & Migration
Tawny-collared Nightjar
Resident of tropical dry forest and scrub in eastern Mexico (Veracruz, Oaxaca, Tabasco) and northern Central America.
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Conservation Status
Tawny-collared Nightjar
Antillean Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Tawny-collared Nightjar
Brown and buff mottled above; distinctive tawny-buff collar encircling hindneck diagnostic; white gorget in male; pale buff underparts with dark barring; white outer tail spots in male; Mexican dry forests.
Antillean Nighthawk
Brown and buff mottled above with dark brown streaking; white throat patch in male; barred buff-white underparts; white wing bar across primaries; white tail band in male; female has buff …
About These Birds
Tawny-collared Nightjar
A medium-small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~56 g) of humid foothill and montane forest edges in northeastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. Named for its tawny hindneck collar. Brown-mottled plumage; males have white tail corners. Roosts on the ground; feeds nocturnally on insects. Least Concern.
Antillean Nighthawk
A small Caprimulgidae nighthawk (~56 g) of open scrub, savannas, and coastal habitats in the Caribbean from Cuba and Hispaniola to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Very similar to the Common Nighthawk but separated by voice. Migratory; winters in South America. Aerial insectivore; Least Concern.