North American field guide
Whip-poor-will
Caprimulgus vociferus
Identification
Field notes
23-25 cm (9-10") Fairly common but local. Cottage country bird; open woods, canyons. Nocturnal. Nests on forest floor where birds are well camouflaged. Feeds on flying insects.
Mottled gray-brown; short, rounded wings without wing patches; rounded tail; black chin; thin light necklace. Male has white outer tail feathers, female's are buff.
Calls repeatedly at dusk and dawn; named for this distinctive call.
Song: repeated "whip poor-will".
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Wild Whippoorwill Bird Flying Downtown Birmingham Alabama
Credit: Tony DWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 3 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Whip-poor-will
3 rulesRule 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 ?
- Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States
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 ?
- Northwestern Canada or United States
Rule 3 13 criteria · confidence 3
- 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 ?
- 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 · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · 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 ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)