Antillean Nighthawk vs Todd's Nightjar
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Setopagis heterura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Todd's Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Setopagis heterura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 27.8 cm (10.9 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 36.5 g (1.29 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in nocturnal flight over South American savanna and scrub. |
| 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
Todd's Nightjar
Rapid churring trill; nasal 'trrr-trrr' phrases repeated at dusk; calls from savanna and open woodland; poorly documented; higher-pitched than most Setopagis
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Todd's Nightjar
Resident of open woodland and savanna in Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, and the Guianas; also found in adjacent northern Brazil.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Todd's 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 …
Todd's Nightjar
Brown and grey mottled with dark vermiculations; white throat patch in male; white spots on outer tail feathers in male; buff on throat and tail in female; no white wing …
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.
Todd's Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~37 g) of open woodland and savanna in Trinidad and the Llanos of Venezuela and Colombia. Cryptically patterned brown-and-buff; white throat mark visible. Nocturnal; calls persistently at night. Feeds on flying insects. Similar to Spot-tailed but distinguished by call and range. Least Concern.