416. 



GOATSUCKERS AND SWIFTS 

 Chuck-will's-widow. 



Avtrosiomus carolinensis. 



Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf States, 

 breeding north to Virginia and Indiana, and 

 west to Arkansas and eastern Texas. 



These birds are abundant summer residents 

 in tlie soutlicrn portions of tlieir range, but as 



k 



I i I S \^ HlO"W 



Graj'ish white 



they are silent and hiding in the woods during 

 the day time, they arc not as popularly Known 

 as are most birds. They rarely fly during the 

 day time unless disturbed from tlieir roosting 

 place which is on the ground under underbrush 

 or in hollow logs. Their notes, which are a rapid and repeatedly uttered whis- 

 tling repetition of their name, are heard until late in the night. They nest dur- 

 ing April, May or ,Tune, laying two eggs on tlie ground amid tlie leaves in woods 

 or scrubby underbrush. The eggs are grayish to creamy white in color, hand- 

 somely marked with shades of lilac, gray and brownisli; size 1.40 x 1.00. 



117- Whip-poor-will. Antrosfomv.s vorifertis vociferus. 



Range. — North America east of the Plains; north to the southern parts of the 

 British possessions; winters along the Gulf coast and southward. 



This species is well known, by sound, in nearly all parts of its range, but 

 comparatively few ever observed the bird, and probably the greater number 

 mistake the Nighthawk for tliis species. The two species can readily be dis- 

 tinguislied at a distance by the absence of any pronounced white marking in 



the wings, and by tlie white tips to the outer 

 tail feathers in the present species, while the 

 Night Hawk has a prominent white hand across 

 the tail, but the top is black, and the tail slight- 

 ly forked. The Whip-poor-will, rarely leaves 

 its place of concealment before dark, and is 

 never seen flying about cities, as are the Night- 

 hawks. In their pursuit 

 of insects, they glide 

 like a shadow over 

 fields and woods, their 

 soft plumage giving 

 forth no sound as their 

 wings cleave the air. 

 Until late at night, their 

 whistling cry "whip- 

 poor-will," repeated at 

 intervals, rings out 

 tricts. Their two eggs 



ground among dead leaves, generally in dense 

 woods. They are grayish white or cream color 

 marbled with pale brown and gray, with faint 

 er markings of lilac. Size 1 .50 x .85. 

 263 



I'rpaniy whitfi 



all wooded hilly 

 are deposited on 



dis- 

 the 



Whip-poor-will 



