Eastern Whip-poor-will (EWPW)
Antrostomus vociferus
Range
Eastern Whip-poor-wills’ range, movement, and migration are elusive and difficult to record. Eastern Whip-poor-wills breed throughout the eastern U.S. from Northern Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina up through the northeastern U.S and southern Canada reaching Ontario and Nova Scotia. In the wintering season they migrate across the southern US to settle across the Gulf Coast.
Additional Maps
Identification
Eastern Whip-poor-wills are medium-sized birds with large heads, stout chests, and long tapered tails and wings. Both male and female adult Whip-poor-wills have complicated molting patterns that provide good camouflage. When singing, a black throat and white bib are visible, breaking up their camouflage. Male and female Whip-poor-wills are patterned the same, making it difficult to tell them apart visually. During the breeding season, male Whip-poor-wills turn their namesake song whip-poor-will by repeating it. Whip-poor-will is also given as a call by both male and female individuals; they also give a short quirt to contact their mates or express agitation. They may growl, hiss, and clap their wings to protect territory and ward off predators.
Habitat
Eastern Whip-poor-wills breed in dry or evergreen deciduous forests with little to no underbrush and close to open areas. They tend to avoid areas of large uninterrupted forest. In the wintering season, they prefer broadleaf tropical or subtropical forests.
Conservation Status
- Listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Listed as On Alert by NABCI’s State of the Birds 2022
- Listed as Secure by NatureServe Explorer
- Listed as a Yellow Watchlist Species by Partners in Flight
- Listed as a Yellow Alert Species by Road to Recovery
Status by State
- Listed as Vulnerable by Alabama State Species of Greatest Conservation Need
- Listed as Vulnerable by Arkansas State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (pg 153)
- Listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the 2015 Delaware Wildlife Action Plan
- Listed as a Special Concern species by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
- Listed as Species in Need of Conservation by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
- Listed as Bird Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the 2015-2025 Maryland State Wildlife Action Plan
- Listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the 2015 Massachusetts Wildlife Action Plan
- A Species of Conservation Concern in Missouri by the Missouri Department of Conservation
- Listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the 2015 New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan
- Listed as Species of Interest by New Jersey’s Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species
- Listed as a High Priority Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the List of Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Fish and Wildlife Species of New York State
- Listed as Vulnerable by North Carolina State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (pg 48)
- Listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the 2015-2025 Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan
- Listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the 2015 Rhode Island Wildlife Action Plan
- Listed as Vulnerable by South Carolina State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (pg 6-15)
- Listed as High Priority by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the 2015 Virginia Wildlife Action Plan
- A Special Concern species in Wisconsin as listed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Threats to Conservation
Eastern Whip-poor-wills have experienced an annual decline of 2% between 1966 to 2019 or a cumulative decline of 61%. The primary threat that Eastern Whip-poor-wills face is habitat destruction from agriculture, urbanization, or fire suppression. During migration they are particularly vulnerable to collisions with vehicles while foraging near roadways.
Funding Opportunities
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
- America the Beautiful Challenge
- Carolina Bird Club Conservation Grants
- Community Forest Program
- Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) Mini Grant
- ConocoPhillips Partnership for Public and Private Land Managers
- Conservation Nation Grant Program
- Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program
- Delaware River Program
- Delaware River Watershed Initiative
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
- Florida’s State Wildlife Grants Program
- Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative Small Grant Program
- Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program
- MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant Program
- Natural Areas Research Grant
- Natural Legacy Program
- Nature Works
- Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) Grant
- NFWF Grants Library
- North American Wetlands Conservation
- Northeast Forests and Rivers Fund
- Partners for Fish and Wildlife Grant
- Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Conservation Grant Projects
- Texas State Wildlife Grants
- The Lawrence Foundation- Environmental Grants
- The Migratory Bird Program
- Tribal Wildlife Grants
- Wildlife Habitat Grant Program
- Wisconsin Forest Landowner Grant Program