ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Whip-poor-will

Whip-poor-will

Photo by Todd Fink/Daybreak Imagery

Few birds sing as incessantly as these odd nocturnal "nightjars." A whip-poor-will at fever pitch might produce 59 songs a minute, and they have been known to sing a thousand renditions nonstop. Their song carries long distances, and is simple to learn; they say their name.

Listen

Whip-poor-will

Caprimulgus vociferus

At-a-Glance

• Incubation: 19-20 days

• Clutch Size: 2 eggs

• Young Fledge: 20 days after hatching

• Typical Foods: insects

Description
This bird is mottled heavily with gray, black and brown. The throat is black and the bill is very short.

Habitat and Habits
The whip-poor-will inhabits open, deciduous woods and forages on the wing over open fields and brushy areas.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Whip-poor-wills nest (and sleep by day) on the forest floor among dead leaves, where their coloration allows them to blend in.