Large-tailed Nightjar vs Antillean Nighthawk
Caprimulgus macrurus compared with Chordeiles gundlachii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Large-tailed Nightjar | Antillean Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus macrurus | Chordeiles gundlachii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 35.8 cm (14.1 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 69.16666666666667 g (2.44 oz) | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal feeder on flying insects including moths, beetles, and larger dipterans; hunts in low coursing … | 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
Shared Habitats
Large-tailed Nightjar only
Antillean Nighthawk only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Large-tailed Nightjar
Loud, resonant 'chuck-chuck-churr'; hollow knocking notes with long trill; one of Asia's commonest nightjars; calls persistently from forest edges; carries great distance
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
Large-tailed Nightjar
Found from India and Sri Lanka east to the Philippines and northern Australia. Resident in forest edge, secondary growth, and plantations.
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Conservation Status
Large-tailed Nightjar
Antillean Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Large-tailed Nightjar
Intricately patterned brown, black, and buff upperparts; pale supercilium contrasts with dark crown; white throat patch; males show conspicuous white outer tail feathers and white primary spots; long tail distinctive.
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
Large-tailed Nightjar
A large nightjar (25-33 cm) widespread from South and Southeast Asia to Australasia. Brown plumage with bold rufous collar patches. Crepuscular and nocturnal, feeding on insects in forest clearings and edges. Recognizable by its persistent, rhythmic tok-tok-tok call.
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.