Chuck-will's-widow

We banded 19 new birds and had 8 recaptures of 8 different species this morning.  The biggest surprise of the day came first thing in the morning when we found a Chuck-will's-widow in the net. Chucks are fairly common at KIBS during spring, summer, and fall but are mostly nocturnal, hunting open areas near woodlands searching to flying insects which they catch on the wing.  They have huge mouths and long, stiff bristle-like "whiskers" which help guide the prey into their mouth.

Chuck-will's-widow (Hatch-year, sex unknown)

 

NEW BIRDS
1 Chuck-will's-widow
1 Carolina Wren
1 Brown Thrasher
2 Northern Mockingbird
3 Prairie Warbler
2 Northern Cardinal
9 Painted Bunting

RECAPTURES
2 Carolina Chickadee
1 Carolina Wren
2 Northern Cardinal
3 Painted Bunting

BANDING STATS
# of Birds Banded:  19
# of Recaptures:  8
# of Species:  8
Effort:  125.0 net-hours
Capture Rate:  21.6 birds/100 net-hours
# of Nets:  25

BANDING STAFF
Aaron Given
Ryan Donnelly