Whip-poor-will
Caprimulgus vociferus
Identification Tips:
- 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.