Antillean Nighthawk

Overview

The Antillean nighthawk (Chordeiles gundlachii) is a nightjar native to the Caribbean, The Bahamas, and the Florida Keys. Its specific epithet honours the Cuban naturalist Juan Gundlach.

Identification

• Dark plumage with brown, grey, and white patterning on the upperparts and breast; underparts are white with black bars.
• Long black wings displaying a white bar in flight, and a dark tail with white barring.
• Distinguished from the common nighthawk by contrasting pale tertials near the back of the wings when sitting.
• Males have a white throat, while females possess a light brown throat.
• Emits a short 'pikadik' call usually heard overhead.

Habitat

Breeding habitat consists of open country across the Greater and Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas, and the Florida Keys, favouring recently cleared forests, airport fields, cane fields, and pastures. The species nests on bare ground, occasionally in raised locations such as stumps or gravel roofs. Some evidence suggests migration routes extend to North and Central South America, though specific wintering grounds remain unknown.

Diet

This bird catches flying insects on the wing, primarily foraging during crepuscular hours near dawn and dusk. Foraging may also occur at night, specifically during times of a full moon.

Did you know?

In the Dominican Republic, the bird is known as querebebé, while in Puerto Rico it is called querequequé. Both names are onomatopoeic terms originating from the Taíno language.