Photo: Louis Agassiz Fuertes (artist, 1874-1927) / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Poorwill
Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) — Nightjars & Allies of North America.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 48.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Caprimulgiformes
- Family Caprimulgidae Nightjars
- Genus Phalaenoptilus
- Species nuttallii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 48.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Poorwill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Common Poorwill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family, within the order Caprimulgiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA sw Canada to n Mexico.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 48.3 g, with a wing length of about 14.4 cm and a tail of around 8.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Poorwill?
The Common Poorwill is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 48.3 g.
Where does the Common Poorwill live?
The Common Poorwill is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA sw Canada to n Mexico, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Common Poorwill belong to?
The Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Common Poorwill eat?
The Common Poorwill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Common Poorwill migrate?
The Common Poorwill is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Common Poorwill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Poorwill make?
1 real field recording of the Common Poorwill — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Poorwill's range?
The Common Poorwill has a mapped global range of about 4.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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