Eastern Whip-Poor-Will
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Antrostomus vociferus
Population size
1,800,000
Life Span
4-15 years
Weight
42-69
1.5-2.4
goz
g oz 
Length
22-27
8.7-10.6
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
45-50
17.7-19.7
cminch
cm inch 

The Eastern whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) is a medium-sized member of the nightjar family. It is found in North America and is commonly heard within its range, but less often seen because of its camouflage. It is named onomatopoeically after its song.

No

Nocturnal

Ca

Carnivore

In

Insectivores

Te

Terrestrial

Gl

Gliding

Te

Territorial

Ov

Oviparous

So

Solitary

Mi

Migrating

E

starts with

Ca

Camouflaged Animals
(collection)

Appearance

Eastern whip-poor-wills are characterized by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Adults have mottled plumage. Their upperparts are grey, black, and brown in color; the lower parts are grey and black. Males have a white patch below the throat and white tips on the outer tail feathers; in the female, these parts are light brown.

Video

Distribution

Geography

Eastern whip-poor-wills breed across central and southeastern Canada and the eastern United States and migrate to the southeastern United States and to eastern Mexico and Central America for the winter. These birds prefer to live in deciduous or mixed woods with little underbrush but can also be found in wetland habitats and farmlands.

Eastern Whip-Poor-Will habitat map

Climate zones

Eastern Whip-Poor-Will habitat map
Eastern Whip-Poor-Will
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Habits and Lifestyle

Eastern whip-poor-wills are generally solitary preferring to spend time on their own; however, during migration, they may form loose flocks. These birds forage at night, catching insects on the wing, and normally sleep during the day on the ground or on low-lying branches. Named after their song, Eastern whip-poor-wills are commonly heard within their range, but less often seen because of their camouflage which provides protection from predation.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Eastern whip-poor-wills are carnivorous (insectivorous) birds. They feed on various insects including moths, beetles, mosquitoes, flies, bees, and wasps.

Mating Habits

INCUBATION PERIOD
19-21 days
BABY NAME
chick
web.animal_clutch_size
2 eggs

Eastern whip-poor-wills arrive on their breeding grounds in March. They nest on the ground, in shaded locations among dead leaves, and usually lay 2 eggs at a time. Incubation lasts 19-21 days performed by both parents. The chicks hatch well developed covered in down but with their eyes closed. They are fed and protected by both parents and start to fly at the age of 20 days. Eastern whip-poor-wills usually produce 1 or 2 broods per year and females may lay a second clutch while the male is still caring for chicks from the first brood.

Population

Population threats

The main threats to the Eastern whip-poor-wills include habitat loss and degradation. They are also vulnerable to predation by feral cats and dogs, poisoning by insecticides, and collisions with traffic as they often sit at the side of roads.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Eastern whip-poor-will is 1,800,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.

References

1. Eastern Whip-Poor-Will on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_whip-poor-will
2. Eastern Whip-Poor-Will on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22736393/131617918
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/405768

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