GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, ETC. 



(417) Antrostomus vociferus 

 vociferus 



(Wils.) (Lat., voice-bearing, noisy). 



WHIP-POOR-WILL. The long 

 rictal bristles not branching. Often 

 confused with the Nighthawk, 

 although without reason for the 

 differences are very apparent to 

 observing persons. Notice that the 

 chin of this species is black; that 

 there is no white on the wings; that 

 the primaries are barred with buff; 

 and that the tail feathers are broadly 

 tipped with white (on the cf) or 

 narrowly tipped with buff (on the 9 ). 

 L., 9.50; W., 6.10; T., 5.80, rounded 

 at the end. Eggs — Two, creamy- 

 white, blotched with gray, brown and 

 lilac, I. IS X .85. 



Range — Breeds from southern 

 Canada to the Gulf, and from the 

 Plains to the Atlantic. 



Order MACROCHIRES. Goatsuckers, Swifts, etc. 

 Family CAPRIMULGID.E. Goatsuckers 



A family of nocturnal or semi-nocturnal birds having very 

 soft, loose plumage, small bills but extraordinarily large 

 gapes, the mouth opening to behind the eyes. They all 

 commonly nest on the ground, laying two eggs, which are 

 usually marbled with gray. 



CHUCK- WILL'S-WIDOW is our largest representative 

 of this family, in point of size. This species is quite abun- 

 dant in our Southern States, but, because of its strictly 

 nocturnal habits, is not known to most people even of the 

 regions it inhabits. They are never seen in flight during 

 daylight unless they have been frightened from their retreats 

 in dense thickets. At night they become active and their 

 peculiar doleful calls may be heard at nearly all hours; the 

 notes are a rapid, energetic but dismal chanting of the 

 syllables " chuck- will's- widow, " with the accent strongly 



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