Antillean Nighthawk vs Band-tailed Nighthawk
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Nyctiprogne leucopyga
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Band-tailed Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Nyctiprogne leucopyga |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 24.7 g (0.87 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Hawks small to medium flying insects over South American rivers, lakes, and surrounding savanna at … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | -- |
| 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
Band-tailed Nighthawk
Sharp, high 'chip-chip' notes; thin buzzy trills; calls over rivers at dusk; small size produces high-pitched thin vocalizations; often calls in flight
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Band-tailed Nighthawk
Resident and nomadic along large rivers and in open savanna in tropical South America from Venezuela south to Bolivia, Brazil, and northern Argentina.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Band-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 …
Band-tailed Nighthawk
Small; dark brown above with buff speckles; pale buff below with dark brown barring; white tail band diagnostic at species level; white throat patch in male; no white wing bar; …
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.
Band-tailed Nighthawk
A tiny Caprimulgidae nighthawk (~25 g) of tropical river margins and sandbar beaches in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Blackish brown with a white rump band; very small. Roosts on bare sand and low branches near water. Feeds on insects aerially at low elevations above rivers at dusk. Least Concern.