Antillean Nighthawk vs Sickle-winged Nightjar
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Eleothreptus anomalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Sickle-winged Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Eleothreptus anomalus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 25.8 cm (10.2 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 43.7 g (1.54 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Aerial insectivore; hawks moths and beetles at night over South American wet grassland and marshes. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Antillean Nighthawk only
Sickle-winged Nightjar only
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
Sickle-winged Nightjar
Soft churring call; low-pitched, repetitive trill from grassland; males produce distinctive wing noise in display flight; vocalizations quiet compared to wing sounds
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Sickle-winged Nightjar
Resident of open marshland, wet grassland, and savanna from Paraguay and adjacent Bolivia south to Uruguay and northeastern Argentina.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Sickle-winged Nightjar
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 …
Sickle-winged Nightjar
Male with extraordinarily elongated sickle-shaped outer primaries; dark brown with buff mottling; white throat and wing spots. Female brown with buff spots; normal wing shape; male wing shape unique among …
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.
Sickle-winged Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~44 g) of wet pampa grassland and marshes in southeastern South America. Males possess uniquely curved primary feathers creating a sickle-wing silhouette in flight. Inhabits dense grass over moist soils. Feeds on insects at dusk. Vulnerable from grassland drainage and conversion to cropland.