Eastern Whip-poor-will Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Chuck-will's-widow
Adult
Chuck-will’s-widows are larger and have much larger heads than Eastern Whip-poor-wills. They also have paler buffy throats than Eastern Whip-poor-wills.
© Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 23, 2012Similar Species
Common Nighthawk
Adult
Common Nighthawks are a colder gray-brown unlike the richer colors of Eastern Whip-poor-wills. They also have white bars on the wings that whip-poor-wills lack and they are much more likely to be seen in daylight, in open areas, and higher in the sky than Whip-poor-wills.
© Daniel Irons | Macaulay LibraryMaryland, August 23, 2016Similar Species
Common Pauraque
Adult male
Common Pauraques are larger and have longer tails than Eastern Whip-poor-wills.
© Paul Tavares | Macaulay LibraryCayo, March 05, 2015Main Species
Eastern Whip-poor-will
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
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 sound
Adult
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, 2020Male
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 sound
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Species in This Family
Nightjars and Allies(Order: Caprimulgiformes, Family: Caprimulgidae)
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