Antrostomus carolinensis
The Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis, is the largest nightjar in North America, a master of camouflage with a distinctive onomatopoeic call. Measuring 28-33 cm (11-13 in) in length with a wingspan of 60-66 cm (24-26 in) and weighing 100-188g (3.5-6.6 oz), its cryptic plumage is a mottled blend of brown, black, grey, and rusty hues, perfectly blending with leaf litter and tree bark. Key identification marks include its disproportionately large head, short bill but extremely wide ga...
Found primarily in open deciduous or mixed pine-oak woodlands, often near sandy soils or water bodies, ranging from sea level to moderate elevations.
Feeds almost exclusively on large flying insects such as moths, beetles, grasshoppers, and even small birds, captured in flight using its enormous gape.
Strictly nocturnal and crepuscular, Chuck-will's-widows spend their days perfectly camouflaged, roosting motionless on horizontal tree branches or directly on the forest floor, often parallel to a limb to further obscure their outline. They are aerial insectivores, employing a 'sallying' strategy...
The Chuck-will's-widow breeds across the southeastern United States, extending from Maryland south through Florida and west to eastern Oklahoma and central Texas, with scattered populations reaching into southern Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. During the winter months, these birds undertake a ...
Least Concern
- The Chuck-will's-widow is the largest nightjar in North America, significantly larger than its cousin, the Eastern Whip-poor-will. - Its common name is a direct onomatopoeia of its distinct, nocturnal call. - Despite its small bill, it has an incredibly wide gape, allowing it to swallow prey as...