Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis

Identification Tips:

• Length: 11 inches
• Very short bill
• Long tail
• Mottled brownish underparts
• Brown and white patterning on head and chest
• Brown underparts with thin dark bars
• Buff throat

Adult male:

• White patch borders lower margin of black throat
• Brown and black barred tail with white inner margins to outer tail feathers

Adult female:

• Buff patch borders lower margin of throat
• Entirely brown tail barred with black

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 than the Whip-poor-will, 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.