132 MACROCHIRES : Goatsuckers, Swifts, and Hummingbirds 



MACROCHIRES ("long hands/' referring to distal part of 

 the wing). Represented in North America by three families 

 and about thirty species. Feet very small and weak. 



STEPHENS WHIP-POOR-WILL 



(417a. Antrostomus vociferus macromystax) 10 in. 



Upper parts mottled satiny gray, variously marked with 

 black; tertials with heavy spots of velvety black; throat and 

 chin dull black, bordered below by narrow white or tawny half- 

 collar; exposed portions of three outer tail-feathers largely 

 white (shown in flight). 



A row of long, stiff, curved bristles surrounds the mouth, 

 greatly increasing its effectiveness as an insect-trap. 



Flies only by night, roosting in daytime in some secluded, 

 well-shaded spot. 



DUSKY POOR- WILL 



(418b. Phalaenoptilus nuttalli californicus) 7 in. 



Upper parts a moth-like blending of satiny gray, brown, and 

 black; below, finely barred black and buffy; throat with white 

 half-collar, margined with black. 



Never flies by day unless disturbed from its resting-place 

 underneath a bush. Hunts near the ground at dusk, often 

 hovering Owl-like, with rapid wing-beat. Feeds on large moths 

 and other insects taken in flight. Often alights on open roads or 

 trails. 



Call: "Chuck." Song: A tremulous, whistled "poor-will, 

 poor-will," rapidly repeated. 



POOR-WILL 



(418. Phalaenoptilus nuttalli nuttalli) 7| in. 

 Lighter in color than the California form, but general pattern 

 and markings the same. Some individuals show a wonderful 

 "frosting" on upper parts. This is now recognized as a color 

 phase but formerly was considered characteristic of a pale 

 desert race. 



