Antillean Nighthawk vs Sand-colored Nighthawk
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Chordeiles rupestris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Sand-colored Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Chordeiles rupestris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 32.9 cm (13.0 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 52.25 g (1.84 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Aerial insectivore; hawks insects over South American river sandbars and open areas, often in flocks. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Antillean Nighthawk
Distinctive 'kill-and-dee-dick' or 'killydee'; buzzy nasal call audible overhead; faster and shorter phrasing than Common Nighthawk; Caribbean accent clear
Sand-colored Nighthawk
Nasal, buzzy 'bzeent' calls; short buzzing trills; colonial roosters produce chorus of soft chirring notes; calls from sandy riverbanks at dusk
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Sand-colored Nighthawk
Resident of sandy riverbanks and open savanna in the Amazon and Orinoco basins of Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and Brazil.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Sand-colored Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
Sand-colored Nighthawk
Pale sandy-buff overall with dark brown vermiculations; white throat and lower underparts; bold white wing bar; white tail with dark terminal band; paler coloration than other nighthawks suits sandy riverbank …
About These Birds
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.
Sand-colored Nighthawk
A small Caprimulgidae nighthawk (~52 g) of open sandy riverbanks and beaches along major Amazonian and Orinoco river systems. Pale sandy and white plumage provides near-perfect camouflage on bare sand. Roosts communally on sandbanks; feeds on insects at dawn and dusk. Least Concern; common along large rivers.