Whip-poor-will

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".

Videos

Images

Credit: Ed Gaillard

Credit: Jerry Oldenettel

Credit: Nicholas Pederson

Credit: R. Bruce Horsfall 1913

Distribution Maps

Whip-poor-will winter distribution map

Whip-poor-will distribution map