Week of 02.17.25
This week's bird is the Eastern whip-poor-will, a small, round bird with beady black eyes. They are described as looking “front heavy” due to a rounded front and long tail. These birds are experts at camouflage, their feathers comprised of brown, black, grey, and white patterns which allow them to disappear in the forest. This type of coloration is called mottling.
Whip-poor-wills belong to a family of birds called Nightjars. Other members of this family include nighthawks and poor-wills. All nightjars are nocturnal, as suggested by the name! They hunt for insects at dawn and dusk with the help of a few physical adaptations.
Nightjars have distinct eyes that help them see in low light, similar to owls. A whip-poor-will's eyes will flash red when light is reflected off of them. These birds have mouths that open into a gaping hole, allowing them to catch moths and beetles in the dark, using their mouth as a "net". Their lower jaw can extend horizontally and vertically. Birds in the Nightjar family are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers because of their mouths, which lengends believed they used to drink milk from goats. Eastern whip-poor-wills also have bristle like structures around their beak that help capture prey.
All of these features make whip-poor-wills masterful predators. They also make them terrifying omens of death.
Whip-poor-wills across the globe have inspired sloughs of ghost stories. The Eastern whip-poor-will’s cousin, the satanic nightjar, makes a variety of horrifying noises that have been likened to the sound of a human eyeball being pulled out. (Yikes. Also, how anyone knows what that sounds like is beyond me...) The Eastern whip-poor-will has a less frightening call, but many people still find it ominous. The whip-poor-will calls its own name - whip-poor-will whip-poor-will.
The sound is eerie and unnerving to some, and relaxing to others. Those who grew up hearing it at night may find it comforting and nostalgic. Some Native tribes of the Eastern United States believe the call of a whip-poor-will to be a sign that a soul is soon departing. These birds are revered and feared, and referenced far and wide across the East coast. Their unique patterns and shapes make whip-poor-wills an interesting subject for visual artists.
During the day, whip-poor-wills enjoy resting on the ground or in tree branches. Their stillness combined with camouflage makes them very hard to spot.
If you ever see one in person, despite their bad press, they are actually quite cute. Fortunately, this newsletter is a good omen, not a bad one, so I think you’ll…
Have a great week!
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Sources:
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/news/big-mouth-small-white-bib#:~:text=Foraging%20is%20facilitated%20by%20distinctive,feeding%20on%20large%20flying%20insects.
Art by Anne Longman