Golden-browed Chat-Tyrant

A medium-sized vulture with a silvery bill, a dark body, a grayish shine on the wings, a white back, and a distinctive white collar on the neck. In flight, the adult appears dark with a strikingly large white slab running across the underside of the wing. The juvenile is dark brown with fine pale streaks; it has a dark collar, pale feathers on the head, a dark bill, and no white on the back or underwing. Found in open areas and around habitation.

Dark brown and buff nocturnal bird often first noted by its distinctive song, a low, burry “weeyo” given in rapid succession. Similar to migratory Chuck-will’s-widow, but plumage is darker and less buffy, and tail is tipped white in male or buff in female, though this may only be evident when seen from below. Short wings that do not reach tail tip help distinguish it from Antillean Nighthawk. Inhabits forest and edge, and often seen along roads at night as its eyes gleam in the headlights of passing cars or the spotlights of birders. Sallies out to catch insects from the ground or a branch. Sleeps by day on the ground or a low perch. Endemic to Cuba.

One of a number of essentially identical-looking small swifts. Best identified by its nest, made up of dried moss and other scraps of vegetation; compare with the dark nest of Black-nest Swiftlet and white nest of Edible-nest Swiftlet, with which it often shares its breeding caves. Often flies in large flocks over forests and waterways; mixes with other swiftlets.