Long-tailed Nightjar vs Antillean Nighthawk
Caprimulgus climacurus compared with Chordeiles gundlachii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Long-tailed Nightjar | Antillean Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus climacurus | Chordeiles gundlachii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.6 cm (11.3 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 48.333333333333336 g (1.70 oz) | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) |
| Diet | Crepuscular to nocturnal; feeds predominantly on moths and flying beetles, hawked in open flight near … | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Long-tailed Nightjar only
Antillean Nighthawk only
Song & Call Comparison
Long-tailed Nightjar
Churring trill with hollow 'cuck' notes; 'cuck-churr-cuck' pattern; calls from West African woodland at night; alarm a sharp bark; persistent caller in dry season
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
Long-tailed Nightjar
Found in East Africa from Ethiopia south to Kenya and Tanzania. Resident in open bushland. Male has elongated outer tail feathers with bare shafts.
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Conservation Status
Long-tailed Nightjar
Antillean Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Long-tailed Nightjar
Brown and black cryptic upperparts; white throat patch; males sport extremely elongated central tail feathers twice body length with bare white rachis; females much shorter-tailed; West African savanna specialist.
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
Long-tailed Nightjar
A slender nightjar (21-28 cm including elongated tail streamers) found in open woodlands and savanna across sub-Saharan Africa. Males have extraordinarily long central tail feathers during breeding season. Nocturnal insectivore; an intra-African migrant following seasonal rainfall.
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.