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Bird of the Week: Chuck-wills widow

The bird of the week is the Chuck-wills widow.
Chuck-wills widow.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – The bird of the week is the Chuck-wills widow.

This bird is nocturnal, and is best known for its traits of extremely large eyes, nests on the ground and is often seen in the middle of the road at night.

It has a huge mouth with bristles along the edge to help bounce insects into it while the bird is in flight.

Their call is similar to the Whippoorwill, as the bird is a close relative. The call is often repeated nonstop in late spring/summer. The call sounds like they are saying their name, "Chuck wills widow, Chuck wills widow," over and over again.

In central Arkansas we hear more Chuck-will's than Whippoorwills. In the Ozarks you're more likely to hear Whippoorwills.

Another close relative is the Common Nighthawk. These are often seen flying around the flood lights of night time sports events eating insects.

Bizarre factoid is that this group of birds is referred to as the "Goatsucker family." Old folk tale was that during the night they drained the udders of goats with their large mouths! No truth it that tall tale!

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