Common Poorwill - Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
General Description
Small 19-21 cm, 36.0 - 54.5 g. Head large and flattened, large eyes, small bill with immense gape. Tail and wings are short and rounded. Plumage soft brown and gray streaked with black and white. Paler underside. Broad white band crosses dark throat and chest. Rectrices in males have white tips, buff colored in females. Lack of white wing stripe and presence of rictal bristles and white or buff colored tail tips distinguish this species from Common Nighthawk. Noted for its distinctive call (poor-will) and its ability to enter a state of torpor. (Csada, Ryan D. and Brigham, Mark. The Birds of North America, No 32, 1992).
Distribution
Montana Range
Observations in Montana: 125
Montana CountiesBig Horn, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Rosebud, Sanders, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Toole, Valley, Wheatland, Yellowstone
Habitat
Dry, open, grassy or shrubby areas; high rolling prairies, semi-arid flats, and rocky foothills. (Csada and Brigham 1992).
Food Habits
Night-flying insects. (Csada and Brigham 1992).
Reproductive Characteristics
Eggs are usually laid on bare ground, occasionally on a hard gravel surface, flat rock, or a bed of pine needles, often partially shaded. Always appears to be 2 eggs per clutch. (Csada and Brigham 1992). Egg dates are probably similar to those for Colorado: May 20 to June 14.