Antillean Nighthawk vs Scrub Nightjar
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Nyctidromus anthonyi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Scrub Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Nyctidromus anthonyi |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 24.8 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 36.2 g (1.28 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Catches flying insects in nocturnal aerial sallies over arid scrub of Ecuador and Peru. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 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
Scrub Nightjar
Whistled churring phrases; melodic 'pweer-pweer' series; similar to Pauraque but drier and less rich; calls from scrubby desert at night; contact a soft 'chuck'
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Scrub Nightjar
Resident of arid scrub, dry woodland, and coastal zones in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Scrub 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 …
Scrub Nightjar
Pale sandy-brown with fine dark brown vermiculations; white throat patch; white outer tail feathers in male; no white wing bar; smaller and paler overall than Pauraque; buff outer tail in …
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.
Scrub Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~36 g) of arid coastal scrub and thorn-scrub in southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Pale sandy-buff and brown plumage suits its xeric habitat. Closely related to the Pauraque but smaller and paler. Nocturnal insectivore; calls at dusk. Least Concern in its limited range.