Antillean Nighthawk vs Solomons Nightjar
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Eurostopodus nigripennis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Solomons Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Eurostopodus nigripennis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 43.2 cm (17.0 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 137.5 g (4.85 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Aerial insectivore; hawks moths and other large insects at night over Solomon Islands forest and … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| 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
Solomons Nightjar
Deep, resonant churring call at dusk; slow repetitive notes with hollow, frog-like quality; poorly known vocalizations; rarely recorded in wild
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Solomons Nightjar
Endemic to the Solomon Islands; resident of lowland forest, secondary growth, and forest edge on Guadalcanal and adjacent islands.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Solomons 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 …
Solomons Nightjar
Dark brown and blackish with buff mottling; rufous-buff supercilium; white throat patch; darker overall than most Eurostopodus nightjars; restricted to Solomon Islands; no white wing or tail patches.
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.
Solomons Nightjar
A medium-large Caprimulgidae nightjar (~138 g) endemic to Bougainville and the central Solomon Islands. Dark brown and buff cryptic plumage; relatively large for the genus. Inhabits closed-canopy forest and forest edges. Feeds on insects at night. Vulnerable owing to its very restricted island range and ongoing deforestation.