Antillean Nighthawk vs Eared Poorwill
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Nyctiphrynus mcleodii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Eared Poorwill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Nyctiphrynus mcleodii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 24.1 cm (9.5 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 31.775 g (1.12 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Hawks small flying insects at night in Mexican pine-oak forest on Pacific slopes. |
| 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
Eared Poorwill
Melodic 'poor-will' whistle; soft and repetitive; calls from Mexican pine-oak forest at night; distinctive tonal quality slightly harsher than other poorwills
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Eared Poorwill
Resident of highland pine-oak forest and scrub in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico (Sinaloa, Durango, Nayarit), at 1,000–2,500 m.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Eared Poorwill
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 …
Eared Poorwill
Small; brown and buff mottled with dark vermiculations; small tufted ear-like feathers above eye diagnostic; white throat in male; buff throat in female; small white outer tail spots; Mexican highland …
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.
Eared Poorwill
A small Caprimulgidae poorwill (~32 g) of pine-oak forest and wooded hillsides in the Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico. Named for subtle pale ear tufts. Cryptic brown-and-buff plumage; roosts on ground or branches. Nocturnal insectivore. Rarely seen but detected by its repeated whistled calls. Least Concern.