Identification
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Fairly large, rather pale grayish nightjar of scrubby woodlands, thorn forests, edges and adjacent clearings in western Mexico. Hunts mainly from perches at forest edge and from the ground. Cryptic plumage similar to other nightjars; both sexes have buffy collar on the back of the neck. Male has white tail corners. Female has narrow, pale buffy tail corners. Best detected and identified by voice: striking song is a rapid, accelerating series of hollow clucks ending with an emphatic “chee-aa.”
Relative Size
Larger than a Common Poorwill and slightly smaller than a Mexican Whip-poor-will.
![Relative Size](/guide/images/size/scale.png)
![between robin and crow](/guide/images/size/btwn-robin-crow.png)
Measurements
- Both Sexes
- Length: 8.7-9.1 in (22-23 cm)
- Weight: 1.7 oz (48 g)