Antillean Nighthawk
Chordeiles gundlachii
Long-winged nightbird with intricate brown and gray patterning. Very similar to Common Nighthawk, best distinguished by voice. Gives a rapid series of hard, buzzy notes: "drik-rik-rik-rik." A Caribbean species; in the U.S., found only on the Florida Keys. Prefers open areas with mix of grass, bare ground, and shrubs. Nocturnal but can be seen hunting around dawn and dusk, searching for insects in flight.
Identification
The adults are dark with brown, grey and white patterning on the upperparts and breast; the long wings are black and show a white bar in flight. The tail is dark with white barring; the underparts are white with black bars. The adult male has a white throat; the female has a light brown throat. The most distinguishing characteristic to determine its identity from its closest relative the common nighthawk are the contrasting pale tertials near the back of the wings of a sitting bird. There are two color morphs, a gray and a rufous type. Like other nighthawks, this bird will display by flying upward with a distinctive call note, then diving, pulling out of the dive only a few feet from the ground. This creates a rush of air and distinctive sound.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Chordeiles gundlachii
- Authority
- Lawrence, 1857
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Genus
- Chordeiles
Range and habitat
Their breeding habitat is open country of the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas, and the Florida Keys in the United States. They usually nest on bare ground, sometimes in raised locations including stumps or gravel roofs. They especially favor recently cleared areas in forests, airport fields, cane fields and pastures. Little is known about migration habits, although there is some evidence of migration routes to North and Central South America.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Velvet-fronted Euphonia
Euphonia concinna
Uncommon within restricted range of the Magdalena Valley of central Colombia, from around 200 to 1,000 m. Occurs in open woodlands. Males are dark steely-blue above and rich yellow below, with a yellow forecrown. Note entirely dark throat and dark underside of tail. Female is dull grayish olive above and yellow below. Note yellow forecrown on female. Could be confused with Orange-bellied Euphonia; male Orange-bellied has white underside of tail and females are grayer below.
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorus
Rather large thrush, gray-brown above and whitish below with rather rounded dark spots; tail has small white corners, lacking in appreciably smaller Song Thrush. In flight, looks rather pale and grayish overall, especially when compared with dark brownish Song Thrush. Found in a variety of wooded habitats, including parks and moorland with hedges and taller trees. Often feeds on larger lawns and grassy verges, often well away from cover. Sweet and rich-sounding warbled song is similar to that of Eurasian Blackbird, and very unlike Song Thrush. Dry rattle calls are distinctive.
Sagebrush Sparrow
Artemisiospiza nevadensis
Pale, subtly-patterned sparrow. Sandy-brown overall with gray head and whitish breast with dark central spotting. Very similar to Bell’s Sparrow and once considered the same species. Sagebrush Sparrow is usually paler and less contrasty overall. Also look for Sagebrush's relatively indistinct and narrow dark mustache stripe and distinct dark streaks on pale brown back. Found in shrubby expanses of sagebrush in western North America (more extensive range than Bell’s, essentially only overlapping in winter). Perches up conspicuously when singing; otherwise stays low and hidden. Frequently runs on the ground, often with tail cocked up. Song is a jumble of mechanical, musical notes, slower than Bell's Sparrow.
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