The Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis) is a nocturnal bird of the nightjar family Caprimulgidae. It is the largest nightjar in North America. The common English name of this bird "chuck-will's-widow " is an onomatopoeia from its song. It also has alternative names "chuckwuts-widow" and "chip-fell-out-of-a-oak".
The Chuck-will's-widow has a short bill and a long tail typical of the nightjars. It has mottled brownish underparts, a buff throat, reddish-brown feathers lined with black, and brown and white patterning on the head and chest. Males have patches of white on their outer tail feathers.
These birds are found in the southeastern United States (with disjunct populations in Long Island, New York, Ontario, Canada, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts). They migrate to spend winter in the West Indies, Central America, and northwestern South America. Chuck-will’s widows prefer to live near swamps, rocky uplands, and pine woods.
Chuck-will’s-widows are secretive birds. Outside of the breeding season, they usually spend their time singly but may congregate in small groups during migration. Chuck-will’s-widows hunt at dusk and dawn and may also hunt during the night when the moon is full. They catch insects in flight and may also perform dives to catch their prey. With their cryptic coloration, these birds roost both in trees and on the ground. Their repetitive song is often heard at night. It consists of a series of calls with a vibrating middle note between two shorter notes, not much shifting in pitch. It is slower, lower-pitched, and less piercing than the song of the whip-poor-will.
Chuck-will’s-widows are carnivores (insectivores), eating primarily insects, particularly those active at night such as moths, beetles, and winged ants. They will also eat small birds and bats, swallowing them whole.
Chuck-will’s-widows are monogamous and form pairs. They breed between April and June. During this time, males are very territorial and chase away intruders, including other males. The female lays 1-4 eggs on patches of dead leaves on the ground. The eggs are pink with spots of brown and lavender and are incubated by the female for 20-21 days. Chicks usually remain in the nest for about 17 days before they fledge.
The main threats to Chuck-will’s-widows include habitat degradation, disturbances, and collisions with cars due to their habit of resting, dustbathing, and roosting on roads.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Chuck-will’s-widow is 5,700,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
