Chuck-will's-widow

Chuck-will's-widow

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A large nightjar of the southeastern United States, the Chuck-will's-widow is well known for its continous singing of its name at dusk.

Description

• Medium-sized to large nocturnal bird.
• Large-headed with a tiny bill.
• Tiny feet (rarely seen).
• Very well camouflaged, colored in browns, black, and gray.
• In flight, long, rounded wings.
• Long, rounded tail.
• Brown throat.

• Size: 28-32 cm (11-13 in)
• Wingspan: 58-61 cm (23-24 in)
• Weight: 66-188 g (2.33-6.64 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar; male with white in tail, female without.

Sound

Call a loud "Chuck-will's-widow," with the first "chuck" being quiet and inaudible at a distance.

Conservation Status

Eastern populations may be declining slightly.

Other Names

Engoulevent de Caroline (French)
Guabairo mayor, Tapacaminos carolinense, Tapacamino de paso, Guabairo Americano (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The Chuck-will 's-widow hunts actively by flying low over the ground in search of insects. Occasionally, small birds and bats are included in its diet.

Sources used to construct this page:

Straight, C. A., and R. J. Cooper. 2000. Chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis). In The Birds of North America, No. 499 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.