The Antillean Nighthawk

Did You Know: The Antillean Nighthawk (Chordeiles gundlachii), also known as the Cuban Nightjar, is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family. It is known as querequeté in Kuba, querebebé in the Dominican Republic, and querequequé in Puerto Rico and is commonly found through the Greater Antilles, as well as the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes. Like owls, they are nocturnal hunters with a highly developed sense of sight, and like the swifts they are excellent flyers with small, weak legs. A rare related species, Caprimulgus noctitherus, exists in the coastal dry scrub forests of southwestern Puerto Rico and is in danger of extinction. Locally, the Puerto Rican nightjar is still known by its Taino name Guabairo. - UCTP Taino News © 2009