Common Poorwill Essay
Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)
Family: Caprimulgidae
Description: Common Poorwills grow to a length from 19 to 21 centimeters and they are relatively medium in size. They have brilliant colored feathers that create a pattern similar to snake scales that are colored brown, gray, white, and black. Their tail feathers are lateral-oriented. Their beaks are short, wide, and curved. They also have bristles on their faces [1].
Similar Species: A similar species to the Phalaenoptilus nuttallii is the Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) [2].
Geographic Range: Common Poorwills are found across western North America ranging from southern British Columbia as well as between Saskatchwen and Mexico. Common Poorwills that live …show more content…
further north migrate south such as to California, Texas, Arizona, and Mexico [1].
Species Ecology: Common Poorwills inhabit open spaces that are dry ranging from grasslands to hills to forests to deserts. In their habitat they utilize short grasses as well as shrubs for safety and protection. They establish their nests in areas of ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, white fir, trembling aspen, and creosote. In addition to that, they nest on the ground where there is low-level shelter such as shrubs and rocks. Common Poorwills have an insectivorous diet that includes beetles and moths [1].
Behavior: Common Poorwills groom themselves using a pectinated comb located on their middle claw that removes parasites. Common Poorwills also clean themselves via dust bathing. Common Poorwills are nocturnal so their big eyes are useful in dark conditions. Their hearing is also exceptional. Common Poorwills communicate with each other through calls and songs [1].
Reproduction: In the spring, male Common Poorwills choose a nesting site and protect it from being taken by other males.
Males and females have similar mating songs and calls. It is difficult to tell the difference whether a song or call is coming from a male or female in the distance. Common Poorwills are monogamous. They lay their eggs between May and June and a second group of eggs are often produced between July and August. Pairs lay the first and second clutch in different nests near each other so the male will continue raising the first clutch and the female will incubate and focus on the second clutch. Clutches come in sizes of two and they are white and sometimes slightly speckled. Young Common Poorwills fledge after 20 to 22 days [1].
Adaptations/Interesting Facts: The Common Poorwill has the ability to decrease its metabolic rate, decrease its body temperature, and go into a shut down state called torpor. This often occurs in winter. This adaptation makes it so that it does not have to spend energy searching for food and food is hardest to find in winter making this is an effective adaptation [3]. The Common Poorwill lives in climates that have extreme temperatures such as deserts. When it is hot they have the ability to pant to cool off
[1].
Conservation Status: The Common Poorwill is mysterious and is challenging to collect data on. The research that has been done is that they thrive in many locations within their geographic range. Their population numbers are most likely stable [3].
Family: Caprimulgidae
Description: Common Poorwills grow to a length from 19 to 21 centimeters and they are relatively medium in size. They have brilliant colored feathers that create a pattern similar to snake scales that are colored brown, gray, white, and black. Their tail feathers are lateral-oriented. Their beaks are short, wide, and curved. They also have bristles on their faces [1].
Similar Species: A similar species to the Phalaenoptilus nuttallii is the Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) [2].
Geographic Range: Common Poorwills are found across western North America ranging from southern British Columbia as well as between Saskatchwen and Mexico. Common Poorwills that live …show more content…
further north migrate south such as to California, Texas, Arizona, and Mexico [1].
Species Ecology: Common Poorwills inhabit open spaces that are dry ranging from grasslands to hills to forests to deserts. In their habitat they utilize short grasses as well as shrubs for safety and protection. They establish their nests in areas of ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, white fir, trembling aspen, and creosote. In addition to that, they nest on the ground where there is low-level shelter such as shrubs and rocks. Common Poorwills have an insectivorous diet that includes beetles and moths [1].
Behavior: Common Poorwills groom themselves using a pectinated comb located on their middle claw that removes parasites. Common Poorwills also clean themselves via dust bathing. Common Poorwills are nocturnal so their big eyes are useful in dark conditions. Their hearing is also exceptional. Common Poorwills communicate with each other through calls and songs [1].
Reproduction: In the spring, male Common Poorwills choose a nesting site and protect it from being taken by other males.
Males and females have similar mating songs and calls. It is difficult to tell the difference whether a song or call is coming from a male or female in the distance. Common Poorwills are monogamous. They lay their eggs between May and June and a second group of eggs are often produced between July and August. Pairs lay the first and second clutch in different nests near each other so the male will continue raising the first clutch and the female will incubate and focus on the second clutch. Clutches come in sizes of two and they are white and sometimes slightly speckled. Young Common Poorwills fledge after 20 to 22 days [1].
Adaptations/Interesting Facts: The Common Poorwill has the ability to decrease its metabolic rate, decrease its body temperature, and go into a shut down state called torpor. This often occurs in winter. This adaptation makes it so that it does not have to spend energy searching for food and food is hardest to find in winter making this is an effective adaptation [3]. The Common Poorwill lives in climates that have extreme temperatures such as deserts. When it is hot they have the ability to pant to cool off
[1].
Conservation Status: The Common Poorwill is mysterious and is challenging to collect data on. The research that has been done is that they thrive in many locations within their geographic range. Their population numbers are most likely stable [3].