Everything about The Whip-poor-will totally explained
The
Whip-poor-will or
whippoorwill,
Caprimulgus vociferus, is a medium-sized (22-27 cm)
nightjar from
North and
Central America. The Whip-poor-will is commonly heard within its range, but less often seen. It is named
onomatopoeically after its call
(External Link
).
This bird is sometimes confused with the related
Chuck-will's-widow (
Caprimulgus carolinensis) which has a similar but lower-pitched and slower call.
Adults have mottled plumage: the upperparts are grey, black and brown; the lower parts are grey and black. They have a very short bill and a black throat. Males have a white patch below the throat and white tips on the outer tail feathers; in the female, these parts are light brown.
Ecology
The Whip-poor-will's breeding habitat is deciduous or mixed woods across southeastern
Canada, eastern and southwestern
United States, and
Central America. Northern birds
migrate to the southeastern United States and south to
Central America. Central American races are largely resident.
These birds forage at night, catching insects in flight. They normally sleep during the day. This bird doesn't normally fly up from the nest unless almost stepped upon.
They are nocturnal animals and nest on the ground, in shaded locations, among dead leaves, and usually lay two eggs at a time.
The Whip-poor-will is becoming locally rare. Larry Penny has recorded a 97% decline since 1983 in
New York state. Several reasons for the decline are proposed, like
habitat destruction,
predation by
feral cats and
dogs, and poisoning by
insecticides, but the actual causes remain elusive. Still, the species as a whole isn't considered globally threatened due to its huge range.
In human culture
In
New England, legend says the Whip-poor-will can sense a soul departing, and can capture it as it flees. This is used as a plot device in
H. P. Lovecraft's story
The Dunwich Horror.
Due to the haunting, ethereal song, the Whip-poor-will is among the most frequently evoked symbols of the rural USA. It is mentioned in
popular culture including works such as:
Music:
"Sunday in the South" by Shenandoah
Prose:
Footnotes
Further Information
Get more info on 'Whip-poor-will'.
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