Antillean Nighthawk vs Swallow-tailed Nightjar
Chordeiles gundlachii compared with Uropsalis segmentata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antillean Nighthawk | Swallow-tailed Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles gundlachii | Uropsalis segmentata |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) |
| Weight | 56.05 g (1.98 oz) | 42.25000000000001 g (1.49 oz) |
| Diet | Catches flying insects in aerial sallies over Caribbean open country and coastal scrub at dusk. | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles over Andean montane forest and scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Antillean Nighthawk only
Swallow-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
Swallow-tailed Nightjar
High, thin churring whistle; reedy 'tsee-tsee' series; calls from Andean forest understory; males conspicuous in display flight; female call softer and shorter
Geographic Range & Migration
Antillean Nighthawk
Breeds in the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica) and Florida Keys; partially migratory within the Caribbean region.
Swallow-tailed Nightjar
Resident of Andean forest edge and open slopes from Colombia and Venezuela south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia, at 1,500–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Antillean Nighthawk
Swallow-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 …
Swallow-tailed Nightjar
Male dark brown with buff and rufous mottling; extraordinarily forked tail with outer feathers extending to 18 cm beyond inner; white throat patch. Female brown and buff mottled without elongated …
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.
Swallow-tailed Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~42 g) of Andean montane forest edges and paramo from Colombia to Bolivia. Males possess a deeply forked swallow-like tail exceeding body length. Inhabits forest clearings and shrubby paramo. Feeds on moths and beetles at dusk. Least Concern in its montane Andean habitat.