Star-spotted Nightjar vs Antillean Nighthawk
Caprimulgus stellatus compared with Chordeiles gundlachii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Star-spotted Nightjar | Antillean Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caprimulgus stellatus | Chordeiles gundlachii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 30.9 cm (12.2 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 59.25 g (2.09 oz) | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Star-spotted Nightjar only
Antillean Nighthawk only
Song & Call Comparison
Star-spotted Nightjar
Churring trill; hollow 'chuck' notes interspersed with churring; calls from dry East African bush at night; similar to Donaldson Smith's but larger and louder
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
Star-spotted Nightjar
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Conservation Status
Star-spotted Nightjar
Antillean Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Star-spotted Nightjar
Dark brown upperparts densely dotted with small buff-white stellate spots; white throat patch; underparts barred buff and dark brown; the star-like white spotting on wing coverts and back is the …
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
Star-spotted Nightjar
A small nightjar (21-23 cm) found in dry, rocky semi-desert and arid bushland of the Horn of Africa and southern Arabian Peninsula. Sandy-brown plumage with star-like white spots on wing coverts. Nocturnal insectivore. Poorly studied due to remote habitat.
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.