Chuck-will's-widow
Caprimulgus carolinensis
Identification Tips:
- 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.