Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
The Common Poorwill, *Phalaenoptilus nuttallii*, is North America's smallest nightjar and the only bird known to truly hibernate, a remarkable adaptation that sets it apart from its avian relatives. Measuring a mere 17-21 cm (6.7-8.3 inches) in length with a wingspan of 27-32 cm (10.6-12.6 inches) and weighing just 31-58 grams (1.1-2.0 oz), this cryptically patterned bird blends seamlessly into its arid and semi-arid scrubland habitats. Its plumage is a mottled tapestry of gray-browns, buffs,...
Common Poorwills inhabit arid and semi-arid regions of western North America, favoring open woodlands, scrublands, grasslands with scattered shrubs, and rocky slopes from sea level up to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) in elevation.
Common Poorwills are obligate insectivores, feeding almost exclusively on moths, beetles, grasshoppers, and other flying insects caught in flight.
Exclusively nocturnal and crepuscular, the Common Poorwill spends its days motionless, perfectly camouflaged, roosting on the ground or on low branches, often in partial shade. It is an aerial insectivore, sallying from a low perch or the ground to catch moths, beetles, and other flying insects o...
The Common Poorwill breeds across much of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan in Canada, southward through the western and central United States, including states like California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, N...
Least Concern
- The Common Poorwill is the only bird in North America (and one of very few globally) known to truly hibernate, entering a state of torpor for weeks or even months. - During torpor, its body temperature can drop from around 40°C (104°F) to as low as 5°C (41°F), and its metabolic rate slows drama...