Antillean Nighthawk vs White-tailed Nightjar
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Hydropsalis cayennensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | White-tailed Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Hydropsalis cayennensis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 27.3 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 35.75 g (1.26 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Aerial insectivore; catches moths, beetles, and flying insects at night over South American open and … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Antillean Nighthawk only
White-tailed Nightjar only
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
White-tailed Nightjar
Rapid, whirring trill; 'churrrr' repeated with nasal quality; calls from open savanna and grassland at dusk; alarm a sharp bark; males display low over ground
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
White-tailed Nightjar
Resident of open savanna and forest edge from Costa Rica through Colombia and Venezuela to the Guianas and northern Brazil; also Caribbean islands.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
White-tailed 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 …
White-tailed Nightjar
Male brown and grey mottled; white outer tail feathers diagnostic; white throat; small white wing spots; female has buff outer tail feathers and lacks white wing spots; scrubby savanna habitats.
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.
White-tailed Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~36 g) of open grassland, coastal savanna, and dry scrub from Panama through northern South America to Trinidad. Males show conspicuous white outer tail feathers. Roosts on bare ground or low branches by day. Feeds on insects at dusk. Adaptable to lightly degraded habitat; Least Concern.