Fiery-necked Nightjar vs Antillean Nighthawk
Caprimulgus pectoralis compared with Chordeiles gundlachii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Fiery-necked Nightjar | Antillean Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus pectoralis | Chordeiles gundlachii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.9 cm (12.6 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 52.083333333333336 g (1.84 oz) | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds at dusk and night on moths and large flying beetles caught in aerial sallies … | 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
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Rich, melodic 'good-lord-deliver-us'; beautiful flute-like whistled phrase; most musical of African nightjars; calls from savanna woodland at dusk; unmistakable song
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
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Found in East Africa from Ethiopia south to Tanzania on mountain ranges. Resident in montane moorland and forest edge at 1,500–4,000 m.
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Conservation Status
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Antillean Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Distinctive bold orange-rufous hindneck collar contrasting with dark brown crown; upperparts brown with black streaks and buff mottling; white throat patch; males show white outer tail spots; Africa's most recognisable …
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
Fiery-necked Nightjar
A medium-sized nightjar (23-25 cm) widespread across sub-Saharan African woodlands and savanna. Rich brown plumage with a bold rufous collar. Named for its extraordinary, unmistakable song: a prolonged, melodic good-lord-deliver-us call. Nocturnal insectivore; resident.
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.