Antillean Nighthawk vs White-winged Nightjar
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Eleothreptus candicans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | White-winged Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Eleothreptus candicans |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 30.2 cm (11.9 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 49.666666666666664 g (1.75 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Catches flying insects in nocturnal aerial sallies over South American savanna and grassland. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Antillean Nighthawk only
White-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
White-winged Nightjar
Soft, purring 'purrr' from cerrado grassland; low, muffled churring; males perform wing-clapping display producing sharp snapping sounds; vocalizations otherwise quiet
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
White-winged Nightjar
Resident of campo cerrado grassland and open savanna in interior Brazil (Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais); rare and endangered.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
White-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 …
White-winged Nightjar
Male largely white on wings with dark brown body; white wing patches striking in flight; brown crown and back; white tail. Female cryptically mottled brown and buff; lacks white wings …
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.
White-winged Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~50 g) of cerrado grasslands in central South America (Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay). Males are almost entirely white; females cryptically brown. One of the most distinctive nightjars. Inhabits open grassland with scattered shrubs. Vulnerable from rapid cerrado agricultural conversion.