Florida, USA eastern whip-poor-will or chuck-will's-widow? (1 Viewer)

[baycountybirder]

Happy New Year to all!
Please help me decide if this is a Eastern Whip-poor-will or Chuck-will's-widow. This nightjar was observed on December 20, 2011 in the panhandle of Florida, USA.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69986584@N08/6544715363/
Thank you again for any help,
baycountybirder

 

[Steve Schoech]

I'd say a Chuck ... all that rich brown

 

[baycountybirder]

Just wondering about the range of the Chuck-will's-widow being summer for this area and the Whip-poor-will would be in the migration range for this area and time of year.

 

[Zackiedawg]

I'm tending to agree with chuck will's - it does have a more brown, buff appearance, doesn't appear to have any white or light tipping on the tailfeathers.

Did you happen to get an idea of its size, relative to any other birds? Chuck will's are quite a bit larger than whip-poor-wills...I mistook the first one I saw for a sleeping screetch owl as it was about that size.

 

[Bird_Bill]

Chuck wills,dont think its too accurate,white,spotty chest-wing bar shows.Never seen
that on a whip.We had them both on family farm in ozarks.Often in summer would
have dueling night jars at opposite ends of pasture.Easy by voice.
What I dont understand is whip was (always) closest to water.

 

[baycountybirder]

Thank you all for your expertise. Chuck-will's-widow wins!