Antillean nighthawk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Antillean nighthawk |
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Chordeiles
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| Species: |
gundlachii
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The Antillean nighthawk is a cool bird found in the Caribbean islands, The Bahamas, and the Florida Keys in the USA. Its scientific name is Chordeiles gundlachii. This name honors a Cuban nature expert named Juan Gundlach.
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What Does the Antillean Nighthawk Look Like?
Adult Antillean nighthawks are dark birds. They have patterns of brown, grey, and white on their backs and chests. Their long wings are black and show a white stripe when they fly. The tail is dark with white stripes. Their belly is white with black stripes.
- Male nighthawks have a white throat.
- Female nighthawks have a light brown throat.
One special way to tell them apart from their close relative, the common nighthawk, is by looking at their wings when they are sitting. The Antillean nighthawk has lighter feathers near the back of its wings.
These birds can come in two main colors: a grey type and a reddish-brown type. Like other nighthawks, they perform a special flight display. They fly upwards while making a unique call. Then, they dive quickly towards the ground. They pull out of the dive just a few feet from the ground. This creates a whooshing sound from the air.
Where Do Antillean Nighthawks Live?
Antillean nighthawks breed in open areas. These areas include the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas, and the Florida Keys in the United States.
They usually make their nests right on the bare ground. Sometimes, they choose slightly raised spots like tree stumps or gravel roofs. They especially like places where trees have recently been cut down, airport fields, sugar cane fields, and pastures.
Scientists don't know much about their migration habits. However, there is some evidence that they might travel to North and Central South America.
How Do Antillean Nighthawks Raise Their Young?
After raising their young, Antillean nighthawks leave their breeding areas. It is still a mystery where these birds spend the winter months.
The female bird lays two eggs directly on the bare ground. They do not build a nest. The female does most of the egg incubation, which means keeping them warm. This period lasts for about 20 days. The young birds are ready to fly, or "fledge," when they are about 20 days old.
What Do Antillean Nighthawks Eat?
Antillean nighthawks catch flying insects while they are in the air. They mostly hunt around dawn and dusk. This is called being crepuscular. Sometimes, they also hunt at night when there is a full moon.
What Does the Antillean Nighthawk Sound Like?
The call of the Antillean nighthawk is a short pikadik sound. You can usually hear it when the bird is flying overhead. The common nighthawk sometimes makes a similar call, but it's not as regular.
In the Dominican Republic, people call this bird querebebé. In Puerto Rico, it's called querequequé. Both of these names sound like the bird's call. They come from the ancient Taíno language.
