whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 9 inches

• Very short bill

• Medium length tail

• Upperparts mottled heavily with gray, black, and brown

• Underparts pale with gray and black mottling

• Black throat

Adult male:

• White patch borders lower margin of black throat

• White tips to the outer tail feathers

Adult female:

• Buff patch borders lower margin of throat

• Buff tips to the outer tail feathers

Similar species:

Separated from nighthawks by the lack of a pale patch in the wing.
Common poorwill is smaller and its wings extend to the tail at rest.
Chuck-will's-widow is significantly larger and longer tailed, is overall
a rich brown rather than gray, and has a buff (rather than black)
throat. All nightjars are easily identified by their distinctive songs.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Neotropical migrant
Breeding Habitat: Woodland
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: N/A
Clutch Size: 2
Length of Incubation: 19-20 days
Days to Fledge: 20
Number of Broods: 1, occasionally 2
Diet: Exclusively insects

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May Acc
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

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