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Antrostomus carolinensis

(Gmelin, 1789)

Chuck-will's-widow

G5Secure Found in 142 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Near threatenedIUCN
Medium - lowThreat Impact
Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis). © Isaac Polanski; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Isaac Polanski; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis). © Marcus Kelly; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Marcus Kelly; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis). © Brennan Stokkermans; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Brennan Stokkermans; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis). © Braxton Landsman; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Braxton Landsman; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis). © Michael Fogleman; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Michael Fogleman; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis). © Holly Coates; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Holly Coates; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis). Photo by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Public Domain (U.S. Government Work), via ECOS.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102662
Element CodeABNTA07010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNNear threatened
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderCaprimulgiformes
FamilyCaprimulgidae
GenusAntrostomus
Synonyms
Caprimulgus carolinensisGmelin, 1789
Other Common Names
chuck-will's-widow (EN) Engoulevent de Caroline (FR) Tapacamino de Carolina (ES)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Formerly merged with Caprimulgus, but now treated as a separate genus on the basis of genetic data (Han et al. 2010) (AOU 2012). Constitutes a superspecies with C. rufus (AOU 1998).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-10-07
Change Date1996-12-02
Edition Date2025-10-07
Edition AuthorsJue, Sally S. (2014); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactMedium - low
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
This species is widespread and abundant throughout the breeding and nonbreeding ranges. The population is declining due to habitat loss, habitat degradation, and declines in insect prey populations.
Range Extent Comments
This species breeds exclusively in the eastern United States. The breeding extends from southeastern Nebraska and southern Iowa east to central Indiana and Long Island (and probably Martha's Vineyard), south to eastern Oklahoma, southern Texas, Gulf Coast, and southern Florida (Brenner and Jorgensen 2019, Straight and Cooper 2020, Metz et al. 2024). Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) records, breeding range extent is estimated to be 3.36 million km² (RARECAT 2025).

The nonbreeding range extends from southeastern Texas, southern Louisiana, coastal Alabama, and southern Florida south through the Caribbean, México, throughout Central America, Colombia, and western Venezuela (Straight and Cooper 2020).
Occurrences Comments
There are many occurrences throughout the range.
Threat Impact Comments
Threats include breeding and wintering habitat loss and degradation. This species prefers habitat with openings in the canopy. The exclusion of fire on the landscape can allow closed canopy forests to succeed where more open habitats would naturally occur, reducing habitat for tis species (Straight and Cooper 2020). Insect declines are often attributed to declines in this species. Spongy Moth (Lymantria dispar) infestations in many parts of the northeastern U.S. have prompted the use of pesticides (Bt and Dimilin) on large portions of oak forest. Bt has been reported to be toxic to more than 40 species of lepidopterans, resulting in possible restricted foraging opportunities for nightjars, especially as the Spongy Moth advances into the southeastern states. Overgrazing could have a detrimental effect on this and other ground nesting species, by trampling and possible reduction of insect prey densities, but no data is currently available to document this (C. Rustay, pers. comm.).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

BREEDING: Deciduous forest, pine-oak association, live-oak groves, and edges of clearings (AOU 1983, 1998). Dry or mesic woods and forests with either pine or hardwood, though favors mixed woods and a light to moderate understory (Hamel 1992). Forages over fields and clearings (Hamel 1992).

NON-BREEDING: also in open woodland, scrub, palmetto thickets, and tropical evergreen forest (AOU 1983, 1998), old second growth, tall hedgerows in savannas and croplands, thickets at forest edge or at gaps inside forest (Stiles and Skutch 1989).

Reproduction

No nest built; eggs are usually laid under dense cover near old roads or forest edges (Oberholser 1974, Imhof 1976, Peterjohn and Rice 1991). Eggs laid March-June in Florida, April-June elsewhere. Clutch size two. Incubation 20 days or more, by both sexes or by female. Young tended by female, can fly at 17 days. The only banded bird ever to be recovered was at least 15 years old (North American Bird Bander, vol. 18).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - Mixed
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5B,NNRN
ProvinceRankNative
MississippiS4BYes
ArkansasS4BYes
New JerseyS4B,S4NYes
OklahomaSNRBYes
FloridaS5BYes
North CarolinaS4BYes
IllinoisS1Yes
OhioS3Yes
West VirginiaS1BYes
VirginiaS4Yes
IowaS3BYes
MarylandS4BYes
GeorgiaS3Yes
DelawareS2BYes
AlabamaS5BYes
New YorkS1BYes
MissouriS3BYes
NebraskaS3Yes
South CarolinaS4BYes
IndianaS3BYes
KansasS4BYes
MassachusettsS1BYes
TennesseeS3Yes
South DakotaS1BYes
LouisianaS4BYes
TexasS3BYes
KentuckyS4BYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentRestricted - smallSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasRestricted - smallSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areasRestricted - smallSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (142)
Alabama (10)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainTalladega National Forest4,986
Blue MountainTalladega National Forest4,986
Cheaha ATalladega National Forest236
Cheaha ATalladega National Forest236
Cheaha BTalladega National Forest741
Cheaha BTalladega National Forest741
Oakey MountainTalladega National Forest6,129
Oakey MountainTalladega National Forest6,129
Reed BrakeTalladega National Forest621
Reed BrakeTalladega National Forest621
Arkansas (8)
AreaForestAcres
Bear MountainOuachita National Forest1,910
Bear MountainOuachita National Forest1,910
Blue MountainOuachita National Forest9,755
Blue MountainOuachita National Forest9,755
Clifty CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,963
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Florida (16)
AreaForestAcres
Clear LakeApalachicola National Forest5,592
Clear LakeApalachicola National Forest5,592
Clear LakeApalachicola National Forest5,592
Gum BayApalachicola National Forest11,645
Gum BayApalachicola National Forest11,645
Impassable BayOsceola National Forest2,789
Impassable BayOsceola National Forest2,789
Long BayApalachicola National Forest5,726
Long BayApalachicola National Forest5,726
Natural Area WsaOsceola National Forest2,543
Natural Area WsaOsceola National Forest2,543
PinhookOsceola National Forest15,405
PinhookOsceola National Forest15,405
SavannahApalachicola National Forest1,927
SavannahApalachicola National Forest1,927
SavannahApalachicola National Forest1,927
Georgia (20)
AreaForestAcres
Ben GapChattahoochee National Forest1,292
Ben GapChattahoochee National Forest1,292
Indian Grave GapChattahoochee National Forest1,020
Indian Grave GapChattahoochee National Forest1,020
Joe GapChattahoochee National Forest5,321
Joe GapChattahoochee National Forest5,321
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Ken MountainChattahoochee National Forest527
Ken MountainChattahoochee National Forest527
Patterson GapChattahoochee National Forest1,186
Patterson GapChattahoochee National Forest1,186
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
Rocky MountainChattahoochee National Forest4,269
Rocky MountainChattahoochee National Forest4,269
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
Tripp BranchChattahoochee National Forest615
Tripp BranchChattahoochee National Forest615
Louisiana (2)
AreaForestAcres
Saline Bayou W & S River CorridorKisatchie National Forest5,355
Saline Bayou W & S River CorridorKisatchie National Forest5,355
North Carolina (37)
AreaForestAcres
Barkers Creek (addition)Nantahala National Forest975
Barkers Creek (addition)Nantahala National Forest975
Big Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest1,155
Big Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest1,155
Catfish Lake NorthCroatan National Forest11,299
Catfish Lake NorthCroatan National Forest11,299
Catfish Lake South - ACroatan National Forest217
Catfish Lake South - ACroatan National Forest217
Catfish Lake South - BCroatan National Forest172
Catfish Lake South - BCroatan National Forest172
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Cherry Cove (addition)Nantahala National Forest836
Cherry Cove (addition)Nantahala National Forest836
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Linville Gorge AdditionPisgah National Forest2,809
Linville Gorge AdditionPisgah National Forest2,809
Little Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest640
Little Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest640
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
Pocosin AdditionCroatan National Forest286
Pocosin AdditionCroatan National Forest286
Pond Pine BCroatan National Forest2,961
Pond Pine BCroatan National Forest2,961
Pond Pine BCroatan National Forest2,961
Sharptop Ridge (addition)Nantahala National Forest600
Sharptop Ridge (addition)Nantahala National Forest600
Sheep Ridge AdditionCroatan National Forest5,808
Sheep Ridge AdditionCroatan National Forest5,808
Sheep Ridge AdditionCroatan National Forest5,808
Wesser BaldNantahala National Forest4,061
Wesser BaldNantahala National Forest4,061
Woods MountainPisgah National Forest9,602
Woods MountainPisgah National Forest9,602
Oklahoma (2)
AreaForestAcres
Beech CreekOuachita National Forest8,303
Beech CreekOuachita National Forest8,303
South Carolina (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bee CoveSumter National Forest3,025
Bee CoveSumter National Forest3,025
Hellhole ExtFrancis Marion National Forest891
Hellhole ExtFrancis Marion National Forest891
Wambaw ExtFrancis Marion National Forest527
Wambaw ExtFrancis Marion National Forest527
Tennessee (10)
AreaForestAcres
Bald River Gorge AdditionCherokee National Forest1,728
Bald River Gorge AdditionCherokee National Forest1,728
Big Frog AdditionCherokee National Forest369
Big Frog AdditionCherokee National Forest369
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Upper Bald RiverCherokee National Forest9,202
Texas (5)
AreaForestAcres
Big WoodsNational Forests in Texas1,320
Big WoodsNational Forests in Texas1,320
Little Lake CreekNational Forests in Texas596
Little Lake CreekNational Forests in Texas596
Little Lake CreekNational Forests in Texas596
Virginia (26)
AreaForestAcres
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
Hoop HoleJefferson National Forest4,652
Hoop HoleJefferson National Forest4,652
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Patterson MountainJefferson National Forest4,865
Patterson MountainJefferson National Forest4,865
Price MountainJefferson National Forest9,119
Price MountainJefferson National Forest9,119
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
Rough Mountian AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest1,142
Rough Mountian AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest1,142
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
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