The Chuck-will’s Widow is a nocturnal bird that regularly visits North America. However, this bird inhabits the south of Florida from Okeechobee to the Keys year-round, In breeding season, this bird spends time in oak-hickory, pine, and other forests of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. During the breeding season, this bird spends time in oak-hickory, pine, and other forests of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. During winter, they move as far south as the Caribbean, Colombia, and Venezuela.
The Chuck-will’s Widow is the largest nightjar in North American and can grow to be 12.6 inches large and weigh 188 grams. This bird is well camouflaged, so it is hard to spot. The general color tone of its plumage is warm brown. and the outer tail feathers have white inner webs). Additionally, its whole body has small black spots.
The diet of the Chuck-will’s widow consists of insects they hunt while flying low over the ground. They have regularly been seen eating smaller birds and bats. This bird does not build nests. Instead, they just lay their eggs among pine needles and dead leaves on the ground.
According to the All About Birds organization, the population of Chuck-will’s widows has declined by about 2.3% per year between 1966 and 2015. This decline accounts for an accumulative decline of 69% by the North American Breeding Bird Survey.
Listen for the Chuck-will widow’s unrelenting calling at dusk and during the night and especially when the moon is full.
Work Cited: The Cornell Lab. “Chuck-will’s Widow.” All About Birds Accessed 25 November 2021.
Photo Credit: Paul Waller, Natureboy Photography
Author: Steven Marquez – Student, Valencia College