Antrostomus carolinensis (J.F.Gmelin, 1789)

General Morphology

The chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis) has the short bill and long tail that are typical of nightjars.

Plumage Features

Its underparts are mottled brownish, it has a buff-colored throat, reddish-brown feathers marked with black lines, and brown and white patterning on its head and chest. Males have white patches on their outer tail feathers.

Size

This species is the largest nightjar found in North America. Its total length ranges from 28 to 33 cm (11 to 13 in), its wingspan ranges from 58 to 66 cm (23 to 26 in), and its body mass ranges from 66 to 188 g (2.3 to 6.6 oz).

Standard Body Measurements

For standard body measurements, the wing chord is 20.1 to 22.5 cm (7.9 to 8.9 in), the tail is 13 to 15.1 cm (5.1 to 5.9 in), the bill is 1.1 to 1.4 cm (0.43 to 0.55 in), and the tarsus is 1.5 to 1.9 cm (0.59 to 0.75 in).

Song Occurrence

Its repetitive song is most often heard at night.

Core Song Structure

The song is made up of a series of calls, with a vibrating middle note between two shorter notes, and does not shift much in pitch.

Song Comparison

Compared to the song of the whip-poor-will, the chuck-will's-widow's song is slower, lower in pitch, and less piercing.

Additional Call Types

The chuck-will's-widow also makes other calls, including a dog-like barking sound, a low-pitched call with two alternating syllables, and a striking "grunt-cluck" or "curr" sound.

"Grunt-Cluck" Call Details

During this "grunt-cluck" call, the bird repeatedly makes a grunting sound at the same time as it makes a clicking noise. The clicking portion of this call can be heard from long distances, and this "grunt-cluck" call is also made by other nightjar species.