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Archives » Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)

Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)

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Poorwills at Night

Close kin to the Whip-poor-will, the nocturnal Poorwill can be heard in summer in canyons at the deep end of dusk. And the Common Poorwill's greatest claim to fame? It was the first bird confirmed to hibernate, based on evidence verified in 1946. Since then, we have learned that Lewis and Clark,... read more »

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Topics & Themes:  history, vocalization
Related bird:  Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)

Birds That Say Their Own Names

Some birds, such as the Northern Bobwhite, take their names from their songs or vocalizations: "Bobwhite! Bobwhite!" The Killdeer is another bird named for its song: "Kill-dee, kill-dee, kill-dee." There are others. "Poorwill, poorwill, poorwill" calls this Common Poorwill. This bird is the... read more »

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Related bird:  Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii), Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), Eastern Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus)

Night Voices - Nightjars

As darkness descends on a May evening, the voices of many birds go quiet. But for some birds, especially those known as nightjars, the music is just beginning! An Eastern Whip-poor-will shouts out its name. The call of a Common Poorwill echoes across a canyon. A Common Pauraque calls from the... read more »

RELATED
Topics & Themes:  birdwatching by ear
Related bird:  Eastern Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus), Chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis), Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis), Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)

Common Poorwills Can "Hibernate"

Common Poorwills don’t sing much when the mercury drops. But they can do something else that is remarkable. As the winter cold deepens, these petite members of the nightjar family can enter a hibernation-like state — and stay like that for hours — or even weeks! Scientists call it torpor. It... read more »

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Topics & Themes:  migration
Related bird:  Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)
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