<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='360022'>Mexican Whip-poor-will

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Engoulevent de la Nouvelle-Espagne dans son habitat naturel

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Nocturne Migratrice
  • Scientific Name: Antrostomus arizonae
  • Spanish Name: Chotacabras mexicano
  • Family: Caprimulgidae
  • Known Nicknames: Whippoorwill, Nightjar
  • Average Length: 22–27 cm / 8.7–10.6 in
  • Average Weight: 60–80 g / 2.1–2.8 oz
  • Wingspan: 45–50 cm / 17.7–19.7 in
  • Key Feature: Cryptic mottled brown and gray plumage with a narrow white band on the throat (male) and a buffy throat (female)
  • Régime alimentaire principal : Insectivore
  • Range: Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) south through Mexico to Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador)
  • Habitat: Pine-oak woodlands, dry scrub, and montane forests with open understory
  • Social Structure: Solitary (except during breeding season as pairs)
  • Nesting/Breeding: Ground nest (scrape in leaf litter, often under a shrub or log)
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Évolution démographique : En baisse

The Mexican Whip-poor-will (*Antrostomus arizonae*) is a master of nocturnal camouflage, a ghostly bird of the southwestern United States and Mexico that is far more often heard than seen. Its general appearance is a cryptic tapestry of mottled browns, grays, and buffs, perfectly mimicking the leaf litter and pine duff of its dry forest and canyon habitats. A unique characteristic is its namesake song—a repetitive, whistled *"whip-poor-will"* that accelerates into a frantic, three-syllable *"whip-poor-WILL!"* at dusk, though this species’ call is distinctly faster and higher-pitched than its eastern cousin. Special features include a nearly invisible, rictal-bristled gape (specialized feathers around the mouth) that acts like a net for catching moths and beetles on the wing, and enormous dark eyes adapted for low-light hunting. Unlike a true bird’s nest, this species lays its two speckled eggs directly on the forest floor, relying entirely on its astonishing camouflage to avoid detection from predators and hikers alike.

Faits amusants

Despite its name, the Mexican Whip-poor-will doesn't actually say "whip-poor-will"; its call is a rapid, stuttering series of notes described as *"pur-wick-a-wee-o"* or a buzzy *"whip-poor-will"* with a distinctly southwestern accent. It has a bizarre defensive behavior called "eyeshine flashing" where it will suddenly open its massive, dark mouth and flash its bright white gape at a predator, creating a startling, ghost-like face in the dark. Unlike most birds, it doesn't build a nest; the female lays her eggs directly on the forest floor, relying on her cryptic, lichen-like plumage to vanish against the dead leaves and bark. It also has a specialized "pectinated claw" on its middle toe, a comb-like structure it uses to preen and clean its sensitive facial bristles, which help it feel for flying insects in the dark.

Habitats et répartition

The Mexican Whip-poor-will inhabits dry to semi-arid forests and woodlands, particularly those dominated by pinyon-juniper, oak, and pine-oak associations at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 meters. It prefers rocky, steep slopes and canyons with sparse understory, often near open areas or clearings where it forages for insects at dusk. Its geographical range extends from the southwestern United States (central and southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and western Texas) southward through the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico, reaching into the highlands of Guatemala and Honduras. During winter, populations in the northern part of the range migrate to lower elevations in central and southern Mexico.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Mexican Whip-poor-will is a solitary bird outside of breeding, with no strong social structure. Males defend territories through persistent, repetitive calls at dusk and dawn. Their mating system is likely serially monogamous for a season, though detailed pair-bonding is poorly documented. Courtship involves the male performing a low, fluttering flight display near a potential female while calling. Uniquely, they do not build a nest; the female lays two eggs directly on leaf litter or bare ground, relying on cryptic plumage for camouflage. Incubation is shared, with the male often taking the day shift and the female at night, and the precocial chicks leave the nest within a day of hatching, being brooded and fed by both parents until fledging.

Alimentation

The Mexican Whip-poor-will is an insectivorous bird, feeding almost exclusively on a diet of flying insects captured during its nocturnal foraging flights. Its menu primarily consists of moths, beetles, mosquitoes, and flying ants, which it snatches from the air with its wide, bristle-lined mouth during short sallies from a perch or while hawking over open areas. An interesting fact about its diet is that it often consumes large quantities of moths, which can make up over 50% of its food intake during breeding season, and it has been observed to feed heavily on beetle species that are considered agricultural pests. Additionally, like other nightjars, it possesses a specialized digestive system that allows it to process the tough exoskeletons of insects, periodically regurgitating indigestible parts as pellets.

Couleurs

The Mexican Whip-poor-will exhibits highly cryptic plumage, primarily mottled brown, gray, and black, with a pale buff or whitish collar on the nape. Males have white tips on the outer tail feathers and a white throat patch, while females show buff instead. Its intricate pattern of spots and streaks provides exceptional camouflage against leaf litter and bark.

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