Chordeiles gundlachii Lawrence, 1857

Adult Upperpart Patterning

Adults are dark, with brown, grey, and white patterning on their upperparts and breast. Their long wings are black, and display a white bar when the bird is in flight.

Tail and Underpart Markings

The tail is dark with white barring, while the underparts are white with black bars. Adult males have a white throat, and adult females have a light brown throat.

Distinguishing Morphological Feature

The most distinguishing feature that separates this species from its closest relative, the common nighthawk, is the contrasting pale tertials near the back of the wings of a sitting bird.

Color Morphs

There are two color morphs: a gray type and a rufous type.

Display Flight Behavior

Like other nighthawks, this species performs a display flight: it flies upward while giving a distinctive call, then dives, pulling out of the dive only a few feet above the ground. This movement creates a rush of air and a distinctive sound.

Breeding Range

For breeding, this species inhabits open country in the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas, and the Florida Keys of the United States.

Nesting Site Preferences

They typically nest on bare ground, and sometimes nest on raised locations including stumps or gravel roofs. They particularly favor recently cleared forest areas, airport fields, cane fields, and pastures.

Migration Habits

Little is known about their migration habits, though there is some evidence that they migrate to North and Central South America.