A Chuck Will's Widow call is something you will never forget. One of those rare birds that is named for the sound of its call - like a Whip-Poor-Will, to which it is related. A Nightjar or "Goatsucker" Chuck Will's Widow is noteworthy for its huge gaping mouth, sometimes called a Frogmouth, and is hardly ever seen. Spending its time well concealed on the ground in heavy brush during the day. It is mating season in the woods behind the backyard - and a time for singing - and singing - and singing! It typically calls from tree limbs - sometimes for hours in the pre-dawn and post-dusk hours. This is the most mysterious of the Backyard birds and one I've never personally seen, but have been very close to in the dark. This recording was made at 5:30 in the morning. A graph of the sound recording clearly shows the three "words" of the Chuck Will's Widow call. Typically the "Chuck" is much lower and softer and harder to hear, but if you listen carefully you'll hear it on most calls except when the frogs crank up the volume.
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The images used in this video are in the public domain (source):
A sound graph of the Chuck Will's Widow call showing the regularity of the repeated calls and the three "words" that make up each and every call, although the first word can be hard to hear.
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