Interesting Vocalization: Whippoorwill

[Susan Bloomfield]

As previously reported, we have been hearing a whippoorwill regularly at our house at dawn and dusk. (And now!) What was remarkable about tonight was at 8:55 pm, there were clearly two of them together not far from me. I was on a screened porch. When they were together, I heard a click then lengthy, rapid  "PAW-PAW-PAW-PAW...!" call, sort of a vaguely electronic sound. Then one flew away to the northwest and the other alighted on a picnic table about 15 feet from me. I saw it clearly. Pretty fantastic!

As the bird/birds have been so close, I always hear the click before the WHIP-POOR-WILL call but this was totally, totally different.

I wish I had recorded that vocalization. Maybe another night! Anyone ever hear that?

Susan Bloomfield 

West Kennebunk

[Susan Bloomfield]

I received a follow-up message from Josh Fecteau who kindly sent a recording of perhaps the vocalization I heard. He was absolutely spot on. Do listen for this at the link below: Song, Growl-cluck Series, Wing Claps, & Growl Phrase

That’s was exactly what I heard. Quite unworldly. Josh sent an image of a descriptive page from the Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Eastern North America: 

 

And audio samples on the book's companion website: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/peterson-field-guide-to-bird-sounds/?speciesCode=easwpw1&species=Eastern%20Whip-poor-will%20-%20Antrostomus%20vociferus

I’m grateful for his time and interest.

Susan B