Chuck-will's-widow

Caprimulgus carolinensisOrder: CAPRIMULGIFORMES Family: Nighthawks and Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)

Codes: Common Name: CWWI Scientific Name: CAPCAR ITIS Taxonomic No.: 177960

Head

Topo Map: Perching-like Head

Bill Shape: All-purpose
Eye Color: Dark brown.
Head Pattern: Eyeline, Streaked
Crown Color: Brown, gray and buff mottling with black markings.
Forehead Color: Brown, gray and buff mottling with black markings.
Nape Color: Brown, gray and buff mottling with black markings.
Throat Color: Red-brown with white half-collar.
Cere color: No Data

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Body

Topo Map: Perching-like Body

Length Range: 28-33 cm (11-13 in)
Weight: 119 g (4.2 oz)
Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
Color: White, Brown, Buff
Underparts: Brown, gray and buff mottling.
Upperparts: Brown, gray and buff mottling with black markings.
Back Pattern: Mottled
Belly Pattern: Barred or banded
Breast Pattern: Solid, Mottled

Flight

Topo Map: Perching-like Flight

Flight Pattern: Bouyant flight.
Wingspan Range: 62-65 cm (24.5-25.5 in)
Wing Shape: Tapered-Wings
Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
Tail Pattern: Mottled
Upper Tail: Brown, gray and brown with black markings and white outer feathers tipped in mottled buff and gray.
Under Tail: Brown, gray and buff mottling.
Leg Color: Brown

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Chuck-will's-widow

Chuck-will's-widow: Large nightjar with entire body complexly mottled with brown, gray, and black. Collar is white, throat is brown, and breast patch is dark brown. The tail is white-edged. Legs and feet are brown. Feeds at night, mostly on insects. Bouyant, silent flight with flicking wing beats.

● Song: "chuck-will's-WID-ow"

● Foraging & Feeding: Chuck-will's-widow: Feeds on flying insects and reportedly takes small birds and bats, usually during migration; forages in flight except during summer molt, when it feeds on the ground for insects and amphibians.

● Breeding & nesting: Chuck-will's-widow: Two pink or buff eggs with purple, gray or brown markings are laid on the bare ground or dead leaves. Incubation ranges from 20 to 24 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Chuck-will's-widow: Nighthawks have pale patches on wings. Common Poorwill is smaller and its wings extend to tail at rest. Whip-poor-will is smaller, shorter-tailed, browner, and has buff throat.

Flight Pattern

Bouyant flight.

● Range & Habitat: Chuck-will's-widow: Breeds from Kansas, Indiana, and Long Island south to Gulf coast states. Spends winters chiefly in the tropics, but a few winter in Florida and along the Gulf coast. Open woodlands and clearings near agricultural country are preferred habitats.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationFairly common

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight4.2 Ounces

Perching-like Head

Perching-like Body

Perching-like Flight

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America