Eastern Whip-poor-will Photo Gallery
Adult
Round-headed nightjar with a stout chest. Patterned with a complicated mottling of gray and brown, which provides good camouflage. Note gray line of feathers on the back.
© Josh Davidson / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 03, 2018Adult
Note blackish throat bordered by thin white collar, large eyes, small bill, and whisker-like rictal bristles around the mouth.
© Dominick Fenech / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, June 20, 2020Adult
Active during the night; typically sleeps during the day, when its camouflaged plumage can make it very hard to spot.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 01, 1997Not all videos have soundAdult
Round-headed nightjar with line of gray feathers on the back. Females have small buffy tail corners and males have large white tail corners, visible in flight.
© matthew sabatine / Macaulay LibraryPennsylvania, May 08, 2020Adult
Typically roosts on limbs close to ground with body parallel to branch.
© Ryan Zucker / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 08, 2019Male
Calls at night, a nearly endless chanting "whip-poor-will." Males have large white flashes in the tail.
© Gregory Griffith / Macaulay LibraryKansas, June 01, 1992Not all videos have soundHabitat
Can turn up in a variety of habitats, including dense undergrowth, during migration. Breeding habitat, however, is typically dry deciduous or mixed forest with little or no understory.
© Mikey Lutmerding / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, April 29, 2012Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Nightjars and Allies(Order: Caprimulgiformes, Family: Caprimulgidae)
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