Antillean Nighthawk vs Choco Poorwill
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Choco Poorwill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi |
| 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) | 49.65 g (1.75 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and small insects in flight over Pacific Chocó forest. |
| 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
Choco Poorwill
Soft, purring 'poor-will' whistle; gentle repetitive phrases from humid Pacific forest; calls from low perch at night; higher and thinner than Common Poorwill
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Choco Poorwill
Resident of lowland Pacific rainforest and forest edge in northwestern Colombia and northwestern Ecuador (Chocó region).
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Choco Poorwill
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 …
Choco Poorwill
Brown and rufous mottled above with dark vermiculations; pale buff below with brown barring; white throat patch in male; small white spots on outer tail in male; 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.
Choco Poorwill
A small Caprimulgidae poorwill (~50 g) of humid lowland and foothill rainforest in the Choco region of Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Mottled brown-and-buff plumage blends with forest floor. Secretive nocturnal insectivore; rarely seen. Calls with a repeated whistled note. Least Concern in its humid forest habitat.