There are two subfamilies of goat-suckers that call New York home: the nighthawks (common nighthawk) and nightjars (
whip-poor-will and chuck-will's-widow).
Indeed, the
whip-poor-will, chuck-will's-widow and poorwill are named for their strident territorial calls.
They went outside at night to hear
whip-poor-wills and screech owls.
Thus young readers will learn about the songs or sounds of American Robins, White-throated Sparrows, Yellow Warblers, Barred Owls, Black-capped Chickadees, Eastern
Whip-poor-wills, Mallards, American Woodcocks, White-breasted Nuthatches, Anna's Hummingbirds, House Sparrows, and Downy Woodpeckers.
Even as Sealy writes lovingly about the Piedmont, the
whip-poor-wills, and sunsets, the land's beauty is receding from daily life.
I'm thinking moonshine and cicadas and the scent of mimosa on the evening breeze, and the sound of
whip-poor-wills calling across the cooling plains.
Estimates for
whip-poor-wills (Caprimulgus vociferus) were based on the 3-month period March-May due to their presence as transient migrants during those months.
Of special note is the addition to this highly recommended picturebook for children a very special educational section, 'For Creative Minds', that provides children with fun facts about birds, 'bird math', bird injuries, and a 'Match the Nest' activity with nest information for Magpies, Killdeer, Robins, Screech-Owls, Starlings, Brewer's Blackbird; the Common Grackle, Meadowlarks,
Whip-poor-wills, Mourning Doves, and the Northern Oriole.