Chuck-will’s-widow

You can find the Chuck-will’s-widow throughout the eastern United States where open forests and dune lands provide a favorable habitat for this species. The Chuck-will’s-widow is larger, equally vocal, and more likely to be in the open when compared to its northerly relative, the Eastern Whip-poor-will. Similar to many goatsuckers, this species sings its distinctive onomatopoeic song primarily at dawn and dusk, but also during nights when the moon is full or nearly so. This species has expanded its range north and west since the eighteenth century, migrating beyond its stronghold in the Southeast and into the mid-Atlantic states.

About Chuck-will’s-widows

This bird aggressively hunts for insects by flying low over the ground. They occassionally eat small passerines and bats. Individuals are sometimes seen on the ground under street lighting searching for ground-dwelling insects and even small frogs during primary molt when maneuvering for flying insects is difficult. In this article, we will be touching upon some interesting topics about the Chuck-will’s-widow.

● Chuck-will’s-widow Photos, Color Pattern, Song
●Chuck-will’s-widow Eating Behavior, habitat
●Chuck-will’s-widow Range and Migration, Nesting

GET KIDS BIRD WATCHING

Chuck-will’s-widow Color Pattern

The Chuck-will’s-widow is exceptionally well-camouflaged because of their warm brown tones and elaborately patterned feathers. The outer tail feathers feature white inner webs that you could observe if it flushes from a roost or passes across your headlights. White is less common in the tail, which helps distinguish it from Whip-poor-will, which has more noticeable white.

Description and Identification

This bird is a big cinnamon-brown Nightjar with cryptically patterned plumage. It is active at night and is more frequently heard than seen. During the day, it usually roosts on the ground or on a tree branch, concealing itself with its cryptic plumage. They have brown, buff, and black mottling on their upper parts. It has a pale rufous throat with a half-collar ranging from whitish (male) to pale buff (female and young) over the lower throat. The breast is mottled blackish and tawny olive, with rich cinnamon to pale buff underparts with barred dark brown barres.

At rest, the tail is long and rounded, protruding slightly beyond the wingtips. Males have white on the inner webs of the outer three rectrices, which are capped with cinnamon-buff. This species’ females lack white pigmentation in their tails.

Chuck-will’s-widow Song

The most common song is chuck-will’s-WID-ow, which is the name of the species. The emphasis on the second and third notes grows. Chuck, the first syllable, is a less musical note that sounds similar to this species’ call notes. Chuck might be difficult to hear at times, especially when speaking from afar. Females have a reputation for not being good singers.

This bird has a variety of call notes. They have various phonetics and a variety of call notes. Growl and cluck are two common male and female cries. When the two sounds occur together, it is a growl-and-cluck sequence, and it is prevalent in social circumstances where more than one Chuck-will’s-widow is present.

Growl is a voice with a low volume. Growls are when young release a “qrrr, qrrr” sound as an intimidation tool while in a protective stance. Females make a guttural “quah, quah”, or “quuh” sound. When a bird growls but doesn’t cluck, it is usually in flight or foraging.

The majority of birds begin to sing as soon as they arrive on breeding grounds, and some even sing just before migrating from wintering grounds. Males sing most in the early season (April to May), continue through incubation, stop singing during the nestling stage, and resume singing just before migration.

Singing is a nighttime activity. The time it takes for the birds to start singing varies from 17 minutes before sunset to 19 minutes after sunset, with an average of 3.6 minutes. Singing may last all night on days with a full or almost full moon. Individuals sang 2.2 times more often “when the moon was larger than half full as opposed to less than half full” during call-count surveys. As the temperature rises, so does the number of calls. The bird sings in the sunshine occasionally. On a clear, sunny day, one bird sings for 3.5 hours after daybreak, and counter-singing by the males at 11:30.

Chuck-will’s-widow Size

This bird is North America’s largest Nightjar. Its length varies between 28 and 33 centimeters (11-13 in). The wingspan can vary 58-66 cm (23-26 in). The species’ body mass ranges from 66-188 grams. (2.3 to 6.6 oz). The wing chord is 20.1-22.5 centimeters (7.9-8.9 in). The tail is 13 to 15.1 centimeters (5.1-5.9 in). The bill is 1.1-1.4 centimeters, according to standard measurements (0.43-0.55 in). The Chuck-will-widow’s tarsus is 1.5-1.9 centimeters (0.59 to 0.75 in) long.

Chuck-will’s-widow Behavior

The bird can jump swiftly upward, but this could be a protective tactic while people are on the ground. Furthermore, this is most likely a foraging tactic, with the goal of catching insects as they fly overhead. It usually flies silently, with many flaps and a glide. When it comes across prey, which is usually a flying bug, it opens its mouth quickly, sometimes with a quick dive. These flights take place at a height of a few meters to around 20 meters above the ground. Shorter flights or sallies are also undertaken from exposed perches into the open air space to catch prey, then returned to the same or a different perch.

Adults and children in defense posture expand their mouths wide, fan their tails, droop their wings, and hiss. Individuals undertake a diversion display by flying low to the ground away from the nest when flushed from the nest with eggs or young. They also fly low and repeatedly plummet to the ground as they flee or hiss and droop their wings.

Chuck-will’s-widow Diet

This bird aggressively hunts for insects by flying low over the ground. They ocassionally eat small passerines and bats.. Individuals are sometimes on the ground under street lighting searching for ground-dwelling insects and even small frogs during primary molt when maneuvering for flying insects is difficult. The bird feeds primarily around twilight and morning, but also in the late afternoon and on rainy days. Crepuscular behavior, like that of Whip-poor-wills, may be due to visual restrictions rather than variations in insect availability. This could also explain
why, during full moons, this species is active all night.

The Chuck-will’s-widow uses rictal bristles, which serve as sensing systems and assist funnel insects into the big bill, to “scoop” up insects while in flight. Sallies also fly up from the ground or low perches to collect insects as they fly by. It feeds on the ground during periods of rapid tail molt, alighting adjacent to animals and capturing them.

Chuck-will’s-widow Habitat

The Chuck-will’s-widow lives in deciduous, pine, oak-hickory, and mixed woods, among others. Live oak woods, woodland edges, and riparian regions are also home to this species. Individuals live in scrub oak and pitch pine woodlands in Massachusetts. Forest gaps, meadows, and scrub appear to be key habitat components for foraging.

In places where Chuck-will’s-widow and Eastern Whip-poor-will co-occur, the former has a more open habitat, and the latter has a more forested habitat. In north Georgia, Chuck-will’s-widow was more abundant than Eastern Whip-poor-will in regions with around 50% forested and 50% agriculture. However, the opposite was true in places with 90% forested and 10% cultivated.

Range and Migration

In late February–May, this bird migrates out of the subtropics. The majority of birds depart Colombia in mid-February, Honduras in late April, and Costa Rica in late May. In Florida, they arrive in mid-to-late March. In Georgia, they arrive in March-early April. While in South Carolina and Arkansas, they arrive in mid-to-late April. In Iowa, southern Illinois,
Missouri, and Kentucky, arrive in late April.

In September, the peak migration season begins. The Chuck-will’s-widows in Georgia and Kansas leave in mid-September. Missouri and Iowa are among the states with departures in late September. Except for that wintering in south Florida, departures from South Carolina and Florida in October.

Chuck-will’s-widowLifecycle

The bird lays two cream-colored eggs with brown and grey markings. Females are most likely the only ones who incubate for roughly 3 weeks. If the nest is disturbed, the adult may relocate the eggs to a different location. Females appear to be the exclusive caregivers for the young. The female raises her young and protects them during the day, feeding them by regurgitating insects. The young’s age at the time of their first flight was 17 days or greater. The male of the species struts or sidles close to the female during daytime courtship with body plumage puffed up, wings drooping, and tail spread. This movement is usually followed by jerky gestures and sounds.

Nesting

This bird does not construct a nest. Dead leaves, pine needles, various litter, or bare ground are used to lay eggs. According to most accounts, there is no nest depression. Eggs are commonly placed around old highways or forest margins in deep cover. This species usually nests near cedars or pines in locations where these trees are common.

Anatomy of aChuck-will’s-widow

The Chuck-will’s-widow is a fairly large bird with a wide flat head and lengthy wings. It is much bigger than Whip-poor-will and Common Nighthawk.

Final Thoughts

The Chuck-will’s-widow is mainly a nocturnal bird that is well camouflaged. Belonging to the Nightjar family, this bird does not build a nest and instead lays its eggs on the floor. The fact that it is well camouflaged means that hunting becomes relatively easier when compared to birds that do not have natural camouflage. This bird can be lives in deciduous forests where pine and oak trees are abundant. This bird also migrates long distances, moving from the United States to the subtropical regions within the country and to Latin America. The birds are highly territorial, and females have a tendency to protect their young ones. The fledglings are known to take flight after 17 days and support themselves after that. Sighting these birds are a difficult task in itself so keep your ears and
eyes open! Step out and bring out the ornithologist in you!

Ornithology

Bird Watching Academy & Camp Subscription Boxes

At the Bird Watching Academy & Camp we help kids, youth, and adults get excited and involved in bird watching. We have several monthly subscription boxes that you can subscribe to. Our monthly subscription boxes help kids, youth, and adults learn about birds, bird watching, and bird conservation.

Bird Watching Binoculars for IdentifyingChuck-will’s-widows

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing Chuck-will’s-widows are 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.

Chuck-will’s-widow Stickers

Stickers are a great way for you to display your love for bird watching and the Chuck-will’s-widow. We sell a monthly subscription sticker pack. The sticker packs have 12 bird stickers. These sticker packs will help your kids learn new birds every month.

Bird Feeders For Chuck-will’s-widows

There are many types of bird feeders. Bird feeders are a great addition to your backyard. Bird feeders will increase the chances of attracting birds drastically. Both kids and adults will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. There are a wide variety of bird feeders on the market and it is important to find the best fit for you and your backyard.

Bird HousesFor Chuck-will’s-widows

There are many types of bird houses. Building a bird house is always fun but can be frustrating. Getting a bird house for kids to watch birds grow is always fun. If you spend a little extra money on bird houses, it will be well worth every penny and they’ll look great.