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Chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis)

Length: 12 in.
Habitat: Open woodland and clearings near agricultural country.
Range: Kansas, Indiana, and Long Island south to the Gulf states. Winters chiefly in the West Indies and from Mexico to northern South America.

Its sound is chuck-will's-wid-ow, repeated over and over, the chuck deep and low, the rest of the call whistled. Also utters a froglike croak when flying.

Chuck-will's-widow is nocturnal and rarely seen during the day. When flushed it flies off a short distance, then drops to the ground again. "Chucks" hunt low to the ground, catching flying insects such as moths, beetles, and winged ants and termites. They have occasionally been reported to take warblers and sparrows.

Animal Calendars