Egyptian Nightjar vs Antillean Nighthawk
Caprimulgus aegyptius compared with Chordeiles gundlachii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Egyptian Nightjar | Antillean Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus aegyptius | Chordeiles gundlachii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 40.2 cm (15.8 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 77.0 g (2.72 oz) | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) |
| Diet | Night-active insect hawker taking moths, beetles, and flying termites during sallies over tropical forest clearings. | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Egyptian Nightjar
Soft, repetitive 'qurr-qurr'; purring trill from desert scrub; quieter than most Caprimulgus; calls carry across open sandy terrain at night; alarm a low 'croak'
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
Egyptian Nightjar
Breeds in North Africa and the Middle East east to Pakistan. Migrant wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. Found in sandy desert and semi-arid terrain.
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Conservation Status
Egyptian Nightjar
Antillean Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Egyptian Nightjar
Pale sandy-buff overall with fine dark brown speckles and streaks; whitish throat patch; wings show ochre spotting on coverts; one of the palest nightjars, adapted to arid desert habitats.
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
Egyptian Nightjar
A pale, sandy-colored nightjar (25 cm) well adapted to arid habitats. Cryptic desert plumage provides excellent camouflage on open sandy ground. Nocturnal insectivore feeding on beetles and moths. Found from the Sahara across the Middle East to Central Asia. A long-distance migrant.
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.