Bird Guide

Eastern Whip-poor-will vs Rufous Nightjar

Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus)

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Antrostomus vociferus

Small53 gForest

This 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). Further standard measurements are a wing chord of 14.7 to 16.9 cm (5+13⁄16 to 6+5⁄8 in), a tail of 10.5 to 12.8 cm (4+1⁄8 to 5+1⁄16 in), a bill of 1 to 1.4 cm (3⁄8 to 9⁄16 in) and a tarsus of 1.5 to 1.8 cm (9⁄16 to 11⁄16 in). 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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Eastern Whip-poor-will
Recorded by steve · Song · Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER from near Patagonia, AZ, USA · CC0
Rufous Nightjar (Antrostomus rufus)

Rufous Nightjar

Antrostomus rufus

Medium94 gWoodland

The rufous nightjar is 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 12 in) long. Males weight 88 to 98 g (3.1 to 3.5 oz) and females 89 to 98 g (3.1 to 3.5 oz). It is almost entirely reddish brown, with a buff collar on the sides and back of the neck and a white band under the throat. The upperparts have dark brown streaks, the wings are spotted and barred with dark brown, and the underparts are speckled with dark brown and white. The wings have no white, unlike those of many others of its family. Voice: The rufous nightjar's song has been interpreted by several authors; two examples are "a loud, staccato chup, whi-whi-RIoh or chuck whip-his-WIDdow, repeated fairly rapidly" and "an energetic, rhythmic chuck, wick-wick-WEEoo." The song is usually given from a perch at any level up to 20 m (66 ft) above the ground.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Rufous Nightjar
Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · Song · Fila De Mariches (near Parroquia La Dolorita), Sucre, Distrito Capital, Venezuela · CC0
Photo: Marcello Mastroianni Albuquerque Araújo · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Eastern Whip-poor-will and Rufous Nightjar.