What does a whip-poor-will eat?

Whip-poor-wills emerge at dusk to feed on beetles, mosquitoes, moths and other night-flying insects in the dark. During the day, it sleeps well-camouflaged on the lower limbs of trees with its body parallel to the branch.

The species is found throughout the Eastern United States and parts of the Midwest. Named for and well-known by its distinctive call, the cryptic colors of the whip-poor-will make it difficult to discover. Reaching 8 to 10 inches in length, the bird bears a short bill and long, rounded tail and wings. To ward off predators that approach, the bird may give a short, sharp whistle, hiss or clap its wings.