Philippine Nightjar vs Antillean Nighthawk
Caprimulgus manillensis compared with Chordeiles gundlachii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Philippine Nightjar | Antillean Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus manillensis | Chordeiles gundlachii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 66.41666666666667 g (2.34 oz) | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal aerial hunter; takes moths, large beetles, and flying termites during prolonged hunting flights at … | 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
Philippine Nightjar
Repeated 'chuck-chuck-churr'; hollow resonant trill; calls at night from Philippine lowland forest; persistent caller at dusk; alarm a rapid 'chuck-chuck'
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
Philippine Nightjar
Endemic to Sulawesi and adjacent Indonesian islands in Wallacea. Resident in lowland and hill forest and secondary scrub up to 1,000 m.
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Conservation Status
Philippine Nightjar
Antillean Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Philippine Nightjar
Complex brown and black upperparts with buff-tawny edging; white throat patch and pale buff supercilium; males possess large white primary spots; underparts extensively barred; distinctly patterned among Philippine nightjars.
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
Philippine Nightjar
A medium-sized nightjar (24-26 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Found in lowland and montane forests, forest edges, and secondary growth. Cryptic grey-brown plumage with fine barring. Nocturnal insectivore feeding on moths and beetles at forest clearings.
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.