Common Poorwill

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

Explore this bird

Identification

20 cm (8") Fairly common. Replaces Whip-poor-will in the west. Sagebrush, coniferous woods, arid roadsides, chaparral.

Short rounded tail has white tipped edges. Short rounded wings. Flies up from ground to catch insects then returns.

Song: night crying, whistled "poor-will".

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Bryant

Credit: Bryant

Watch and learn

2 videos

Common Poorwill At NHM Wildlife Gardens

Credit: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM)

Common Poorwill at O'Neill Park

Credit: OC Parks

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

2 rules

Rule 1 10 criteria confidence 4

Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: No · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Rounded at the end · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Swallow-like · Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:367-common-poorwill:1:1 Source: 367 Common Poorwill, row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 3

What colour were the WINGS ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:827-common-poorwill-songbird:1:1 Source: 827 Common Poorwill Songbird, row 1