071

  • Whippoorwill

  • 1830
  • John James Audubon (b. Saint-Dominique, now Haiti,
    American 1785-1851)
  • Hand-colored engraving
  • 66.4 x 53.0 cm., 26-1/4 x 20-1/8" image
  • Gift of Audubon Elementary School, Rock Island-Milan School District Number 41 through Catherine Carter Goebel, Paul A. Anderson Chair in the Arts, Paul A. Anderson Art History Collection, Augustana College 1996.24

Essay by Stephen Hager, Professor of Biology

The Audubon engraving, like all of Audubon's works in The Birds of America, attempts to portray the Whip-poor-will in its natural habitat, which is hardwood deciduous forest (Chancellor 30). Also depicted are examples of its behavior. Audubon did a fine job depicting an individual on the fly hunting moths. Below this is another, probably a female, in a pose which biologists have interpreted as copulation solicitation, with wings elevated (as if fluttering), head positioned as if looking up, and tail high. The last individual-far left-appears motionless on a tree branch suggesting a roost or resting position. All content in the engraving accurately portrays the detail in color and pattern, including a Cynthia Moth (top) and Io Moth (bottom). Presumably, the moths are included to suggest that Whip-poor-wills are active mainly at night, which may have been difficult for Audubon to draw.

How lucky for Audubon to have actually seen individual Whip-poor-wills behaving in the field. To date, ornithologists know relatively little about this bird because of its secretive habits, nocturnal way of life, and very cryptic coloration and behavior (Cink 1). Biologists suspect that there are actually two species of Whip-poor-wills, both of which are North American (or short distance) migrants. One population breeds in the northeastern quadrant of the U.S. The other population breeds in the desert southwest. Thus, there is very little contact between these two groups. Evolution has selected for differences in the males' song and in egg characteristics. Indeed, luck and perseverance is what one needs to see this bird. Audubon's "luck" was augmented by dispatching individuals and mounting them in species-appropriate postures and positions for his paintings. Those methods notwithstanding, his painting displays the beauty and elegance of the Whip-poor-will. Without this work of art and other illustrations by a very small number of observers, I would have no real idea what this bird actually looks like!