An insect-eating nocturnal North American bird (Caprimulgus vociferus) of the goatsucker family, having spotted brown feathers that blend with its woodland habitat.
[Imitative of its call.]
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An insect-eating nocturnal North American bird (Caprimulgus vociferus) of the goatsucker family, having spotted brown feathers that blend with its woodland habitat.
[Imitative of its call.]
Caprimulgus vociferus
SUBFAMILY
Caprimulginae
TAXONOMY
Caprimulgus vociferus Wilson, 1812, eastern United States. Six subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Engoulevent bois-pourri; German: Schwarzkehlnachtschwalbe; Spanish: Chotacabras Cuerporruín.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
9–10 in (23–26 cm); 1.5–2.4 oz (42–69 g). Grayish brown, blackish brown, tawny, buff, and whitish cryptic coloration. Sexually dimorphic.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds in eastern North America from southern Canada southwards, in Cuba, and in Central America south to Honduras; migrates from northern part of range for winter.
HABITAT
Forests and open woodlands.
BEHAVIOR
Roosts during day; active from dusk until before dawn. Distinctive nocturnal song "whip' poor weel'" is basis of English name.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds on insects caught in flight, often on short sallying flights from a perch.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Unlined nest on ground with clutch of two eggs. Eggs are white to pale cream, usually with spots or small blotches of gray and brown. Incubation mainly by female for period of 19–20 days. Small young have pale buff to yellowish brown down. Young can first fly when about 20 days old.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Rarely noticed by humans, except for its distinctive nocturnal calls.
For more information on whippoorwill, visit Britannica.com.
Voice: At night, a rolling, tiresomely repeated whip' poor-weel', or purple-rib, etc.; accent on first and last syllables.
Range: E. Canada, sw. U.S. to Honduras. Winters from Gulf states to Honduras.
Habitat: Leafy woodlands.
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| Caprimulgus vociferus Wilson, 1812 |
The Whip-poor-will or whippoorwill, Caprimulgus vociferus, is a medium-sized (22-27 cm) nightjar, a type of nocturnal bird. The Whip-poor-will is commonly heard within its range, but less often seen. It is named onomatopoetically after its call.
Adults have mottled plumage: the upperparts are grey, black and brown; the lower parts are grey and black. They have a very short bill and a black throat. Males have a white patch below the throat and white tips on the outer tail feathers; in the female, these parts are light brown.
The Whip-poor-will's breeding habitat is deciduous or mixed woods across southeastern Canada, eastern and southwestern United States, and Central America. They nest on the ground, in shaded locations, among dead leaves, and usually lay two creamy eggs. This bird does not normally flush from the nest unless it is underfoot.
Northern birds migrate to the southeastern United States and south to Central America. Central American races are largely resident. These birds forage at night, catching insects in flight. They normally sleep during the day.
In New England, legend says the Whip-poor-will can sense a soul departing, and can capture it as it flees.[citation needed] This is used as a plot device in H.P. Lovecraft's story The Dunwich Horror.
The whippoorwill is mentioned in several songs, books, and movies, including:
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![]() | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Animal Encyclopedia. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Copyright © 2005 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Western Bird Guide. Peterson Field Guide to Western Birds, by Roger Tory Peterson. Copyright © 1990 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more | |
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