About the Chuck-will's-widow
The chuck-will's-widow is a nocturnal bird of the nightjar family Caprimulgidae. It is mostly found in the southeastern United States near swamps, rocky uplands, and pine woods. It migrates to the West Indies, Central America, and northwestern South America.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The chuck-will's-widow has a short bill and a long tail typical of the nightjars. It has mottled brownish underparts, a buff throat, reddish-brown feathers lined with black, and brown and white patterning on head and chest. Males have patches of white on their outer tail feathers. It is the largest nightjar in North America. In length, it ranges from 28 to 33 cm (11 to 13 in). The wingspan can range from 58 to 66 cm (23 to 26 in). The body mass of the species is from 66 to 188 g (2.3 to 6.6 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 20.1 to 22.5 cm (7.9 to 8.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Chuck-will's-widow sounds like
Where the Chuck-will's-widow lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Curaçao, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Guadeloupe, St. Barthélemy.
When to see the Chuck-will's-widow
Peak activity in May · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Eastern Whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferusThis medium-sized nightjar measures 22–27 cm (8+1⁄2–10+1⁄2 in) in length, spans 45–50 cm (17+1⁄2–19+1⁄2 in) across the wings and weighs 42–69 g (1+1⁄2–2+7⁄16 oz).
Mexican Whip-poor-willAntrostomus arizonaeThe Mexican whip-poor-will is 23 to 24 cm (9.1 to 9.4 in) long and weighs 45 to 50 g (1.6 to 1.8 oz).
Rufous NightjarAntrostomus rufusThe rufous nightjar is 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 12 in) long.
Side by side: Chuck-will's-widow vs Eastern Whip-poor-will
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