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Montana Animal Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Common Poorwill - Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

  • Common Poorwill, Sheltering Under Log
  • Common Poorwill, In Hand
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Potential Species of Concern

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4B

Agency Status
USFWS: none
USFS: none
BLM: none
CFWCS Tier: 3
PIF: 3
 

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).

General Distribution
Montana Range



Western Hemisphere Range

 


Summary of Observations Submitted for Montana
Number of Observations: 130

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density

Recency

Breeding
(direct evidence "B")

Breeding
(indirect evidence "b")

No evidence of Breeding
(transient "t")

Overwintering
(regular observations "W")

Overwintering
(at least one obs. "w")


 

(Records associated with a range of dates are excluded from time charts)



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.

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Citation for data on this website:
Common Poorwill — Phalaenoptilus nuttallii.  Montana Field Guide.  Retrieved on February 9, 2010, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_ABNTA04010.aspx
 
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