Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 8.7–10.2 in
22–26 cm - Wingspan
- 17.7–18.9 in
45–48 cm - Weight
- 1.5–2.3 oz
43–64 g
Other Names
- Engoulevent bois-pourri (French)
- Tapacamino cuerporruín-norteño (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Chicks can move about during the nestling stage, and they often move a bit apart, perhaps to make it difficult for a predator to find them. The parent aids this process by forcibly shoving aside one of the young with its foot as it flushes from the nest. The nestling may be sent tumbling head over heels by the shove.
- The male Whip-poor-will often will investigate intruders near the nest by hovering in place with its body nearly vertical and its tail spread wide to show off the broad white tips of the tail feathers.
- The western populations of the Whip-poor-will differ slightly in plumage from the eastern form, and sometimes are considered a different species (the Mexican Whip-poor-will). Their songs are slower and lower pitched, and their eggs are whiter and less highly colored.
- The Whip-poor-will lays its eggs in phase with the lunar cycle, so that the eggs hatch on average 10 days before a full moon. When the moon is near full the adults can forage the entire night, and so best provide the nestlings with insects.
Habitat
Open Woodland
- Breeds in deciduous or mixed forests with little or no underbrush.
- Winters in mixed woods near open areas.
Food
Insects
Insects, especially moths and beetles.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 2 eggs
- Egg Description
- Cream-colored with darker spots or blotches.
- Condition at Hatching
- Downy, can move around.
Nest Description
No nest made. Lays eggs on leaf litter.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Aerial Forager
Forages at dusk, dawn, and moonlit periods of night. Catches flying insects.
Conservation
Least Concern
Considered declining in some areas; good data lacking because of the difficulty in censusing this bird.
Credits
- Cink, C. L. 2002. Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus). In The Birds of North America, No. 620 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.