Eastern Whip-poor-will
Eastern Whip-poor-will has collapsed: down 79% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the Eastern Whip-poor-will
The Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) is a North American member of the Nightjars & Nighthawks (Caprimulgidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the aerial insectivores.
- Size
- 7.5–12 in long (19–30 cm) — a cryptic, big-mouthed bird (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Open airspace over fields, water and towns; nests in cavities, earthen banks or on structures.
- Diet
- Flying insects caught on the wing.
- Range
- Recorded on 906 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 35 states, most concentrated in the Appalachian Mountains.
- Family
- Caprimulgidae · Aerial insectivores
Notable Eastern Whip-poor-will TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
Eastern Whip-poor-will has collapsed in surveyed states: down 79% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
Eastern Whip-poor-will Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Eastern Whip-poor-will is projected to fall about 98% by 2029 — from 0.06 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.06). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±76.4%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the Eastern Whip-poor-will Is Detected
BBS routes recording Eastern Whip-poor-will, sized by most recent count.
Eastern Whip-poor-will Population Trend by State
Eastern Whip-poor-will Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
Eastern Whip-poor-will Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it down about 79% since 1968. Aerial insectivores have fallen sharply across the continent, a decline widely linked to dwindling insect prey.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.