Salvadori's Nightjar vs Antillean Nighthawk
Caprimulgus pulchellus compared with Chordeiles gundlachii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Salvadori's Nightjar | Antillean Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus pulchellus | Chordeiles gundlachii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.8 cm (12.1 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 57.5 g (2.03 oz) | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) |
| Diet | Strictly nocturnal aerial forager targeting moths and large beetles; hunts by sight in low, erratic … | 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
Salvadori's Nightjar
Churring trill; repetitive 'chrrr' from Sumatran highland forest; calls at night from mossy forest understory; moderate pitch; similar to but separable from Bornean species
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
Salvadori's Nightjar
Known from a single specimen from the eastern DRC. One of Africa's rarest birds; range and habitat entirely unknown. Possibly highland forest.
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Conservation Status
Salvadori's Nightjar
Antillean Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Salvadori's Nightjar
Attractively patterned dark brown and buff upperparts; warm buff supercilium and throat patch; rufous-buff spotting on wing coverts; underparts barred buff; montane Sundaland endemic with relatively rich coloration.
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
Salvadori's Nightjar
A medium-sized nightjar (24-26 cm) endemic to montane forests of Sumatra and Java, Indonesia. Dark brown plumage with rufous collar patches. Nocturnal insectivore of high-altitude forests above 1,000 m. Classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss in montane regions.
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.