North American field guide

Chuck-will's-widow

Caprimulgus carolinensis

Also known as:Chuckwuts-widow

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

30 cm (12") Fairly common but local. Eastern United States. Nocturnal. Feeds on flying insects. Nests on forest floor. Pine or oak-pine woodlands, especially near streams and rivers. Largest nightjar. Mottled reddish-brown above and below; short, rounded wings without wing patches; long, rounded tail; brown throat; thin light necklace - white in males, buffy in females. In flight; males also show white outer tail feathers.

Song: loud whistling "chuck-will's-widow".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

3 photos

Campobello, South Carolina, US - May 28, 2011

Credit: Glen Peterson

South of Old Frog Pond/Lucky Hammock, Florida City, Florida, USA

Credit: Dave Govoni

Credit: ajmexico

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Chuck-will's-widow

Credit: A WILD Connection

Chuck Will's Widow

Credit: MitchBB

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Chuck-will's-widow

4 rules

Rule 1 10 criteria confidence 4

Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: No · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Rounded at the end · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Swallow-like · Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:369-chuck-will-s-widow:1:1 Source: 369 Chuck-will's-widow, row 1

Rule 2 10 criteria confidence 1

Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: No · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Rounded at the end · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Swallow-like · Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southwestern United States

result:369-chuck-will-s-widow:2:1 Source: 369 Chuck-will's-widow, row 2

Rule 3 14 criteria confidence 5

What colour were the WINGS ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:829-chuck-will-s-widow-songbird:1:1 Source: 829 Chuck-will's-Widow Songbird, row 1

Rule 4 14 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the WINGS ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southwestern United States

result:829-chuck-will-s-widow-songbird:2:1 Source: 829 Chuck-will's-Widow Songbird, row 2