Antillean Nighthawk Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesAntillean Nighthawk
Male
A medium-sized nightbird with long, pointed wings, white wingbars, and a notched tail. Male has a white throat patch, white band across the tail, and a larger wingbar than female.
© Michiel Oversteegen / Macaulay LibraryAruba, May 29, 2020Male
On the ground, well-camouflaged with an intricate pattern of black, gray, and brown. Male has a bold white throat patch and a prominent white wingbar sometimes visible on a bird at rest.
© Denny Swaby / Macaulay LibraryWest Bay, July 20, 2019Adult
A long-winged, tiny-billed nightbird, patterned in shades of black, gray, and brown. During the day, nighthawks rest on tree branches, posts, or on the ground.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibrarySantiago de Cuba, April 17, 2007Female
Female lacks male’s white throat patch and is generally warmer colored overall.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryNorth Andros, May 21, 2016Male
Often roosts on tree limbs, usually with the body parallel to the limb. Also roosts on the ground, as well as on fence posts and power lines.
© David Marjamaa / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, May 01, 2014Adult and chick
Nests in open, rocky areas where chick and adult are well camouflaged.
© Pascal Vagner / Macaulay LibraryMatanzas, July 25, 2017Male
Often seen in flight at dusk and dawn, flying buoyantly and erratically in search of flying insects.
© Michiel Oversteegen / Macaulay LibraryAruba, June 06, 2020Habitat
Lays eggs directly on the ground, often in open areas with rocks or pebbles.
© Bryan White / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, May 09, 2020Flock
Sometimes seen in large numbers at dusk, with birds maneuvering agilely in pursuit of flying insects.
© Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibraryCiego de Ávila, August 07, 2004Similar SpeciesCommon Nighthawk
Adult
Common Nighthawk is extremely similar to Antillean Nighthawk, and the two species are best distinguished by voice.
© Ronnie d'Entremont / Macaulay LibrarySouth Dakota, June 25, 2017Similar SpeciesCommon Nighthawk
Adult male
Common Nighthawk is extremely similar to Antillean Nighthawk, and the two species are best distinguished by voice. The wingtips of perched Common Nighthawk typically extend beyond the tail, whereas the wingtips of the Antillean Nighthawk often fall shy of the tail tip or just reach it.
© Zach Haring / Macaulay LibraryMissouri, May 08, 2017Similar SpeciesLesser Nighthawk
Male
Lesser Nighthawk is extremely similar to Antillean Nighthawk, and the two species may overlap in South America in the nonbreeding season. They are best distinguished by voice. In flight, Lesser Nighthawk shows more rounded wingtips, and the white wingbars are closer to the wingtips, but these subtle features can be difficult to see.
© Marky Mutchler / Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, June 22, 2020Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Nightjars and Allies(Order: Caprimulgiformes, Family: Caprimulgidae)
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