Rufous-cheeked Nightjar vs Antillean Nighthawk
Caprimulgus rufigena compared with Chordeiles gundlachii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rufous-cheeked Nightjar | Antillean Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus rufigena | Chordeiles gundlachii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.1 cm (12.6 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 54.68333333333334 g (1.93 oz) | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths, crickets, and beetles in sustained low-altitude hunting flights. | 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
None
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar only
Antillean Nighthawk only
Song & Call Comparison
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar
Rapid churring trill interspersed with 'chook' notes; churring 'rrr-chook-rrr-chook' pattern; calls from southern African woodland at night; distinctive interrupted rhythm
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
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar
Breeds in southern Africa from Namibia to South Africa. Partially migratory, moving north in austral winter. Found in dry woodland and savanna.
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Conservation Status
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar
Antillean Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar
Cryptic brown-grey upperparts with bold black streaks; distinctive warm rufous-cinnamon cheek patch; white throat patch; males show white outer tail corners absent in females.
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
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar
A slender nightjar (23-25 cm) with warm rufous cheek patches and grey-brown mottled plumage. Crepuscular and nocturnal, feeding on flying insects in dry savanna and semi-arid bushveld. Breeds across southern and eastern Africa. An intra-African migrant wintering in tropical 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.