Length: 9 to 10 inches | Wingspan: 16 to 20 inches | Seasonality: Summer |
ID Keys: Mottled gray and brown body, white tail corners (male), buff tail corners (female), rounded wingtips in flight. |
The Whip-poor-will is heard more often than seen, as it chants
it's whip-poor-will in rapid succession, often for long periods of
time. During daylight hours, they sleep motionless on the forest floor,
and can be very difficult to spot because of their mottled camouflaged
feathering. Probably the easiest way to spot a bird in the daytime is
if the nest is approached too closely, which often prompts the parent to hover
in place while investigating the intruder. There are slight but distinct
differences in plumage and voice between eastern and western populations in
North America, and there is some who classify the two as different species.
2) Audubon Guide - Whip-poor-will
Click on the map below for a higher-resolution view |
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South Dakota Status: Common summer resident in the extreme southeastern part of the state. Casual migrant elsewhere. |