| Whip-poor-will Identification Tips |
| (Credit: U. S. Geological Survey) |
| General
Information - Very short bill - Medium length tail - Upperparts mottled heavily with gray, black, and brown - Underparts pale with gray and black mottling - Black throat Adult male - White patch borders lower margin of black throat - White tips to the outer tail feathers Adult female - Buff patch borders lower margin of throat - Buff tips to the outer tail feathers Similar species Separated from nighthawks by the lack of a pale patch in the wing. Common Poorwill is smaller and its wings extend to the tail at rest. Chuck-will's-widow is significantly larger and longer tailed, is overall a rich brown rather than gray, and has a buff (rather than black) throat. All nightjars are easily identified by their distinctive songs. |
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