Antillean Nighthawk vs Collared Nightjar
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Gactornis enarratus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Collared Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Gactornis enarratus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 29.5 cm (11.6 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 52.833333333333336 g (1.86 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in flight over Malagasy forest and forest edge. |
| 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
Collared Nightjar
Soft, churring trill; gentle repeated 'trrr-trrr' at moderate pitch; quiet for a nightjar; calls from dense Madagascar forest undergrowth at dusk
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Collared Nightjar
Endemic to Madagascar; resident of moist eastern lowland and montane forest from sea level to 2,000 m.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Collared 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 …
Collared Nightjar
Brown and rufous with dark brown vermiculations; distinctive rufous-orange collar across hindneck diagnostic; pale buff throat; spotted with buff on wing coverts; tail barred brown; Madagascar endemic nightjar.
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.
Collared Nightjar
A small, beautifully patterned Caprimulgidae nightjar (~53 g) endemic to Madagascar. A pale collar separates the dark crown from streaked brown upperparts. Inhabits humid eastern rainforest and dry western woodland. Nocturnal; hunts insects in forest understorey. Seldom encountered; Least Concern on Madagascar.