Jerdon's Nightjar vs Antillean Nighthawk
Caprimulgus atripennis compared with Chordeiles gundlachii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Jerdon's Nightjar | Antillean Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus atripennis | Chordeiles gundlachii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.8 cm (14.5 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 58.0 g (2.05 oz) | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) |
| Diet | Nighttime insectivore catching large moths and beetles in sweeping aerial sallies over rocky hillsides and … | 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
Jerdon's Nightjar
Loud 'chuck-chuck-chuck-rrr'; hollow knocking 'chuck' notes preceding long trill; calls from South Indian scrub and forest edges; repeats phrase persistently at dusk
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
Jerdon's Nightjar
Found across peninsular India and Sri Lanka, north to Nepal. Resident in dry deciduous forest, scrub jungle, and rocky terrain below 1,500 m.
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Conservation Status
Jerdon's Nightjar
Antillean Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Jerdon's Nightjar
Dark brownish-black upperparts with pale buff vermiculations; whitish supercilium and moustachial stripe; throat patch white; dark wings with buff-spotted coverts; lacks bold white wing patches of some relatives.
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
Jerdon's Nightjar
A medium-sized nightjar (24-26 cm) endemic to the Indian subcontinent, found in rocky hillsides and dry deciduous forests of southern India and Sri Lanka. Grey-brown plumage with intricate vermiculations. Nocturnal insectivore with a distinctive churring call at dusk.
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.