Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 9 inches
• Very short bill
• Medium length tail
• Upperparts mottled heavily with gray, black, and brown
• Underparts pale with gray and black mottling
• Black throat

Adult male:

• White patch borders lower margin of black throat
• White tips to the outer tail feathers

Adult female:

• Buff patch borders lower margin of throat
• Buff tips to the outer tail feathers

Similar species:

Separated from nighthawks by the lack of a pale patch in the wing. Common Poorwill is smaller and its wings extend to the tail at rest. Chuck-will's-widow is significantly larger and longer tailed, is overall a rich brown rather than gray, and has a buff (rather than black) throat. All nightjars are easily identified by their distinctive songs.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.