Cuban Nightjar (Antrostomus cubanensis)

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Image of a Cuban Nightjar in its natural habitat
Birds Nightjar

Introduction

The Cuban Nightjar, Antrostomus cubanensis, is a nocturnal member of the nightjar family, Caprimulgidae. Endemic to Cuba and associated Cuban islands, it is noted for its cryptic plumage, ground-roosting habits and insect-catching flight. Some checklists have historically treated the Cuban and Hispaniolan populations as one species, the Greater Antillean Nightjar, but the name Cuban Nightjar is currently used for the Cuban taxon by major modern checklists, including the IOC World Bird List. (ww.worldbirdnames.org)

Physical Description

The Cuban Nightjar is a medium-sized nightjar, approximately 25–30 centimetres long. It has long, pointed wings, a short bill, short legs and soft, heavily mottled plumage. The upperparts are predominantly dark brown, greyish brown and buff, while the underparts are marked with darker streaks and spots. This pattern closely resembles bark, dry leaves and forest-floor litter, providing effective camouflage when the bird is resting during daylight.

The tail has conspicuous pale tips on the outer feathers. These markings are generally white in males and more buff or creamy in females. Males are also typically slightly heavier than females, although measurements overlap. Reported adult weights are approximately 50–80 grams. The subspecies A. c. insulaepinorum, found on Isla de la Juventud, is described as smaller and darker than the nominate form. (birds-of-cuba.com)

Range and Habitat

The Cuban Nightjar is restricted to Cuba and parts of the Cuban archipelago. The nominate subspecies occurs on the main island and some nearby islands, while Antrostomus cubanensis insulaepinorum is associated with Isla de la Juventud, formerly known as the Isle of Pines. It is a resident species rather than a regular long-distance migrant. (birds-of-cuba.com)

It uses a range of wooded habitats, including relatively dense scrub, dry or semi-deciduous woodland, forest edges, open woodland and areas near swamps. It may occur from lowlands to higher elevations, although it appears to be most numerous in suitable humid lowland habitats in some parts of Cuba. During the day, it usually rests on the ground or among leaf litter, where its plumage makes it difficult to detect.

Behaviour and Diet

The Cuban Nightjar is crepuscular and nocturnal, becoming active around dusk and continuing to forage after dark. It feeds mainly on flying insects, which it captures in the air. The precise balance between continuous flight-feeding and short sallies from a perch or the ground is not well documented, and detailed information on its diet remains limited. (en.wikipedia.org)

Its song is described as a harsh, buzzy, generally single-syllable call whose pitch rises and falls before dropping overall. Vocal activity is particularly useful for locating the species because the bird’s camouflage and nocturnal habits make visual detection difficult. (en.wikipedia.org)

Breeding has been recorded mainly from March to July. The female lays one or, more usually, two eggs directly on the ground, normally without constructing a conventional nest. The eggs are placed among leaf litter or other natural ground cover. Both sexes are believed to take part in incubation, but several aspects of chick development and parental care remain poorly documented. (en.wikipedia.org)

Identification Tips

  • Look for a fairly large, broad-headed nightjar with dark brown, grey and buff mottling.
  • The bird’s camouflage is exceptionally effective when it is sitting motionless on the forest floor, so an apparently empty patch of leaf litter may repay careful scanning.
  • Pale or whitish tail tips can be noticeable in flight, especially from below. Females generally show buffier rather than clean white tail markings.
  • Listen around dusk and during the first hours of darkness for the species’ harsh, buzzy call.
  • Do not confuse the Cuban Nightjar with the Antillean Nighthawk, which is more strongly associated with open terrain and has a different flight profile and vocal repertoire. The Cuban Nightjar is more closely associated with wooded habitats and ground cover.
  • The Hispaniolan Nightjar, Antrostomus ekmani, is the geographically closest similar taxon, but it occurs on Hispaniola rather than in Cuba. Taxonomic treatment of the Cuban and Hispaniolan populations has varied between authorities, so the checklist being followed should be specified in formal records. (americanornithology.org)

Conservation Status

The Cuban Nightjar is currently assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. A precise global population estimate is not available, and the species’ population status is therefore not well quantified. The Least Concern assessment does not mean that local populations are free from risk. Habitat destruction and degradation could reduce suitable woodland, scrub and leaf-litter habitat, while introduced predators may threaten eggs and young birds. (commons.wikimedia.org)

Conservation priorities include maintaining native woodland and scrub, protecting forest-floor structure, avoiding unnecessary disturbance at breeding sites and improving knowledge of distribution, abundance and population trends. Protected areas in Cuba, including sites within the national protected-area network, provide important habitat for the species. Further field surveys would help determine whether local declines are occurring and which habitats are most important during breeding and roosting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the Cuban Nightjar live?

It occurs in Cuba and on some associated Cuban islands, including Isla de la Juventud. It uses wooded habitats such as dry forest, semi-deciduous woodland, dense scrub, forest margins and open woodland near wetlands.

Is the Cuban Nightjar migratory?

No. It is generally regarded as a resident species within the Cuban archipelago rather than a regular long-distance migrant.

What does the Cuban Nightjar eat?

It feeds mainly on flying insects captured during nocturnal or crepuscular flights. Available information does not support a precise list of regularly preferred insect groups.

When does the Cuban Nightjar breed?

Breeding has been recorded chiefly from March to July. Usually two eggs are laid directly on the ground among leaf litter, without a constructed nest.

How can the Cuban Nightjar be identified in the field?

The most useful clues are its dark, heavily mottled plumage, ground-roosting behaviour, pale tail tips and harsh, buzzy call heard around dusk and at night. It is often easier to locate by sound than by sight.

Is the Cuban Nightjar endangered?

It is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, habitat loss, habitat degradation and introduced predators remain potential local concerns, and the global population is not well quantified.

References

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