Common Poorwill

Common Poorwill, adult; s. Arizona; May

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Common Poorwill

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A small nightjar of the arid West, the Common Poorwill is the smallest member of its family in North America. It is one of the few birds known to hibernate during the winter.

Description

• Medium-sized bird.
• Large-headed with a tiny bill.
• Tiny feet (rarely seen).
• Very well camouflaged, colored in browns, black, and gray.
• In flight, short rounded wings.
• Short, rounded tail.
• White band across throat.

• Size: 19-21 cm (7-8 in)
• Weight: 36-55 g (1.27-1.94 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar; male with white corners to tail, female buff.

Sound

Call a loud "poor-will."

Conservation Status

May be increasing.

Other Names

Engoulevent de Nuttall (French)
Pachacue común (Spanish)
Poor-will (English)

Cool Facts

• The Common Poorwill can slow its metabolic rate and drop its body temperature, going into a hibernation-like state known as "torpor." In periods of cold weather, a poorwill may stay in torpor for several weeks. Although probably not true hibernation, topor allows the bird to go long periods of time without food and can help it survive cold spells when its insect prey would not be active.
• Common Poorwills in the laboratory readily enter torpor when deprived of food.

Sources used to construct this page:

Csada, R. D. and R. M. Brigham. 1992. Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii). In The Birds of North America, No. 32 (A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, DC: The American Ornithologists' Union.