Chuck-will's-widow

Description:

The largest nightjar in North America. This one was probably 20" or so head to tail. Nearly impossible to see on the ground where they nest in leaf litter. They are nearly twice the size of the Whip-poor-will and show more white on the underside of the tail (seen in picture three).

Habitat:

Mixed forest near swamps and wetlands. Pine and oak leaf litter.

Notes:

My friend and I were herping tonight and literally stumbled on this bird while we walked through the woods. We've heard it's call every night for the past month or two, but this is the first time we've actually found it. This was a first time spotting for me and it's made a lot of my birding friends jealous. ;)