A nocturnal nightjar whose "whip-poor-WILL" call rings through summer woodlands. Population has declined ~70% since 1970 from forest changes and insect loss.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The eastern whip-poor-will is a medium-sized bird within the nightjar family, Caprimulgidae, from North America. The whip-poor-will is commonly heard within its range, but less often seen because of its camouflage. It is named onomatopoeically after its song.
Source: Wikipedia — Eastern whip-poor-will Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Mottled gray-brown nightjar with a rounded tail; males show large white tail corners and a narrow white throat band. Large dark eyes shine in a light.
Similar species. Chuck-will's-widow is larger and browner with a different song; the Whip-poor-will is grayer with more white in the tail.
Voice. An endlessly repeated, rolling 'WHIP-poor-WILL' on warm nights, accented on the first and last notes.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Flying insects caught at dusk/night.
Behavior. A nocturnal nightjar of eastern woodlands famous for its tireless, named song on warm nights; rests on the forest floor or along branches by day and hawks moths after dark.
§ Range
Eastern North America in summer; winters in southeast US, Mexico
§ Habitat
Open dry pine and oak woodlands
§ Threats
Forest fragmentation, fire suppression altering understory, insect decline.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the eastern whip-poor-will is currently classified as Near Threatened.
§ What helps
Support prescribed fire in pine-oak forests. Skip pesticides. Reduce outdoor lighting.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Eastern whip-poor-will
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Antrostomus vociferus
- IUCN Red List — search for Antrostomus vociferus
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Antrostomus vociferus
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
