Rhode Island · Summer breeder

Eastern Whip-poor-wills in Rhode Island

When whip-poor-wills are present in Rhode Island, when they nest, which native Rhode Island plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–7b yard.

Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)Eastern Whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferus

Status in Rhode Island: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 6a–7b

When to expect whip-poor-wills in Rhode Island

Eastern Whip-poor-wills are summer residents in Rhode Island, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent.

Humid continental with strong maritime moderation around Narragansett Bay.

Nesting in Rhode Island

Across Rhode Island, whip-poor-wills typically nest from May–July. Plan around that window: April for setup, July for clean-out.

Warm summers with sea breezes.

Eastern Whip-poor-wills don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, serviceberry, white oak for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Rhode Island plants that attract whip-poor-wills

Of the regional native plants we track for Rhode Island, these 8 provide food or cover whip-poor-wills use:

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum dentatum · Shrub

Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Feeding whip-poor-wills through the Rhode Island year

Top foods: None — open dry woodland floor is the habitat.
In Rhode Island's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for whip-poor-wills · Best feeder for whip-poor-wills

Frequently asked

Are whip-poor-wills in Rhode Island year-round?

No. Eastern Whip-poor-wills are summer breeders in Rhode Island and leave for the winter.

When do whip-poor-wills nest in Rhode Island?

Nesting in Rhode Island typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 19–21 days.

What native plants attract whip-poor-wills in Rhode Island?

Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Rhode Island that provide food or cover for whip-poor-wills.

Other backyard birds in Rhode Island

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Fox Sparrow American Crow Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Scarlet Tanager Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Field Sparrow Gray Catbird Lark Sparrow Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Black-backed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Horned Lark Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Bohemian Waxwing Yellow-billed Cuckoo Bobolink Rock Pigeon

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.