- Antrostomus vociferus
Identification
22-27cm
- Upperparts: gray, black and brown
- Lower parts: gray and black
- Black throat
- Bill is very shot
Male
- White patch below the throat
- White tipped outer tail feathers
Female: the above details are light brown
Distribution
Breeds throughout most of the eastern United States and southern Canada. Winters from Mexico south to Cuba and Panama.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Until recently it was considered conspecific with Mexican Whip-poor-will.
It was formerly placed in the genus Caprimulgus.
Habitat
Deciduous or mixed woodlands.
Behaviour
Nocturnal; sleeping during the day.
Diet
They hawk at night, catching insects in flight. The diet includes moths and beetles.
Breeding
The nest is hidden amongst dead leaves on the ground. The clutch consists of 2 dark spotted cream eggs.
It is believed the eggs are timed to hatch just before a full moon, allowing the adults to hunt with the best opportunity to catch insects.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Birdforum thread discussing taxonomy of Nightjars and Frogmouths.
- 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds
- Wikipedia
- ARKive
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Eastern Whip-poor-will. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eastern_Whip-poor-will
