| Chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis) |
| Synonyms: Antrostomus carolinensis |
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Caprimulgus carolinensis is a nightjar breeding in the eastern United States and the northern Bahamas, and wintering in southern USA, Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and the West Indies. It nests in deciduous, pine, and mixed forests, and forages in openings, including forest gaps. In the wintering grounds it is also found in scrublands and savannas. Some migrate across the Gulf of Mexico, as the images below attest. The Chuck-will's-widow is the largest nightjar in North America, reaching 33 cm in length, and 190 g in weight. The plumage is reddish-brown with dark-brown and white pattern; the outer rectrices are white in males. C. carolinensis nests between late March and July. Eggs (normally 2) are pale white or gray, with dark brown blotches, laid on dry leaves, pine needles, or other litter on the ground. Incubation lasts 20-21 days; the young are semiprecocial. This species hunts by flying low over the ground in search of insects (mainly moths, beetles, and winged ants), although on occasion it also consumes small birds, bats, or frogs. The Chuck-will's-widow’s vernacular name is onomatopoeic, derived from its continuous, repetitive song.
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