Nightjars and Nighthawks
Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
The Common Poorwill is the smallest nightjar in North America, renowned for its exceptional camouflage and nocturnal habits. This bird is unique among its avian relatives for its ability to enter extended periods of torpor, a state akin to hibernation, to conserve energy during harsh conditions or food scarcity. Its mottled plumage allows it to blend seamlessly with its surroundings during daylight hours.
Typical adult measurements.
Individuals and populations vary.
01 / The telltale details
Start with shape and behavior. Then look for the smaller details.
Mottled gray-brown with intricate patterns, providing excellent camouflage against the ground.
A neat white band across the lower throat is often visible.
Smallest North American nightjar with a flat head, short bill, rounded wings, and a short tail.
Outer tail feathers are tipped with white, more prominent in males.
02 / A place in the world
Found in dry, open areas across western North America, including deserts, grasslands, rocky slopes, and open woodlands. It prefers areas with scattered shrubs or short grasses and often roosts on bare ground or among rocks.
Breeds from British Columbia and southeastern Alberta, through the western United States, and south to northern Mexico. It winters in the southern parts of its breeding range, extending into central Mexico, with some populations remaining year-round in the southwestern U.S.
Northern populations are migratory, moving south for winter and returning in spring. Southern populations may be year-round residents or undertake altitudinal migrations, moving to higher elevations for breeding and lower elevations in winter.
03 / Listen a little closer
Its distinctive call is a monotonous, whistled "poor-will," often repeated for hours from dusk to dawn. A third syllable, "-low," may be heard at close range.
04 / The life behind the feathers
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on nocturnal insects. Its diet mainly consists of moths and beetles, but also includes grasshoppers and locusts.
Forages at night or during crepuscular hours, catching insects in flight. It typically hunts from a low perch or the ground, flying out to capture prey and often returning to the same spot.
Nests on the ground in a shallow scrape, often at the base of a hill or shaded by vegetation. The clutch typically contains two white to pale pink eggs, incubated by both parents.
Nocturnal and highly camouflaged, it spends days roosting silently on the ground. It is the only bird known to enter extended torpor, a state of reduced metabolic activity, for weeks or months to survive cold or food scarcity.
One more reason to pay attention
The Common Poorwill is the only bird species known to enter a state of torpor for extended periods, similar to hibernation.
Hopi Native Americans called this bird "hölchko," meaning "The Sleeping One," recognizing its torpid state long before scientific documentation.
It possesses a pectinate claw, a comb-like serration on its middle toe, used for preening its feathers.
05 / An eye for the difference
The Common Poorwill is smaller with a shorter tail and more rounded wings.
The Common Poorwill is smaller and paler overall, with a shorter tail.
Common Nighthawks are larger, have longer, pointed wings, and a more erratic flight pattern.
AI-assisted species research. Prepared September 2026. Details can vary across regions and populations.