Antillean Nighthawk vs Ocellated Poorwill
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Nyctiphrynus ocellatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Ocellated Poorwill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Nyctiphrynus ocellatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 25.1 cm (9.9 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 38.12 g (1.34 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; hawks moths and small insects over South American forest interior. |
| 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
Ocellated Poorwill
Soft, repeated 'oo-whirr'; gentle purring whistle from Amazonian forest floor; calls at night from ground perch; quiet and easily overlooked despite continuous calling
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Ocellated Poorwill
Resident of lowland and foothill forest edge, secondary growth, and scrub from Nicaragua south through Panama and northwestern Colombia to Peru.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Ocellated 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 …
Ocellated Poorwill
Brown mottled above with distinctive buff and rufous ocellated spots on wing coverts giving spotted appearance; pale buff below with dark barring; white throat in male; small white tail spots; …
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.
Ocellated Poorwill
A small Caprimulgidae poorwill (~38 g) of lowland and foothill rainforest understorey from Nicaragua through the Amazon Basin. Named for pale ocellate spots on the wing coverts visible at rest. Roosts on or near the ground; feeds on insects nocturnally. Secretive and infrequently recorded. Least Concern.