Antillean Nighthawk vs Lyre-tailed Nightjar
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Uropsalis lyra
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Lyre-tailed Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Uropsalis lyra |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 35.2 cm (13.9 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 71.25 g (2.51 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Hawks moths and flying insects at night over Andean montane forest; male's enormously long tail … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| 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
Lyre-tailed Nightjar
Clear, melodic whistled phrase; 'wheeeoo' delivered from Andean ridges; males give repeated territorial whistle; alarm a sharp 'chek'; female call quieter and thinner
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Lyre-tailed Nightjar
Resident of Andean cloud forest and forest edge in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, at 1,000–2,500 m.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Lyre-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 …
Lyre-tailed Nightjar
Male dark brown with buff mottling; outer tail feathers massively elongated and curved outward forming lyre shape up to 60 cm; white throat. Female plain brown and buff mottled without …
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.
Lyre-tailed Nightjar
A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~71 g) of Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia. Males bear enormously elongated outer tail feathers extending over three times the body length in a lyrate shape; females lack this ornamentation. Inhabits moist montane forest edges. Feeds on insects at night. Least Concern.