Antillean Nighthawk vs Short-tailed Nighthawk
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Lurocalis semitorquatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Short-tailed Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Lurocalis semitorquatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 37.1 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 80.7 g (2.85 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Aerial insectivore; hawks large beetles and moths at night over South American forest canopy 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
Short-tailed Nighthawk
Loud, frog-like 'wok' or 'bok' repeated at dusk; hollow resonant quality; calls from high canopy in flight; rapid series when excited; distinctive and far-carrying
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Short-tailed Nighthawk
Resident of lowland forest edge and open woodland from Mexico through Central America and tropical South America to Bolivia and Brazil.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Short-tailed 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 …
Short-tailed Nighthawk
Dark sooty-brown with buff and rufous spotting; rufous-spotted throat forms partial collar; short rounded tail barred dark brown and buff; lacks white wing bar; darker and more uniformly colored than …
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.
Short-tailed Nighthawk
A medium Caprimulgidae nighthawk (~81 g) of forest canopy edges and second growth across much of tropical South America and Central America. Dark brown plumage with a white throat patch. Flies swiftly above the canopy at dusk, catching insects. Rounded wings and very short tail are distinctive. Least Concern.