Few birds have as distinct a song as the Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus). Most frequently heard around the dusk or dawn hours, the bird’s emphatic “whip-poor-will” notes ring from its perches on tree branches or rocky outcrops where it is well camouflaged.

The nocturnal Whip-poor-will is most active at dusk and at early dawn when it is out foraging for flying insects, its only source of food. Its preferred habitats include semi-open forest with exposed rock outcrops, grasslands, pastures, and habitats with exposed mineral soils. Whip-poor-wills avoid heavily forested areas, heavily farmed areas, and human settlements.

In April 2009, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) listed the Whip-poor-will as Threatened. The species has not yet gained official status on Canada’s Species at Risk List.

What You Can Do

• Advocate for the reduction or elimination of pesticides and biocides in agriculture and forestry, and maintain a pesticide-free lawn to encourage a healthy population of insects on which Whip-poor-wills can feed.
• Scientists need your help to gain a better idea of this species’ numbers in North America. Join a bird count or enter your data online if you hear their distinctive call.

Photo by Lloyd Spitalnik (http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com/)