Watercolor portrait of Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)

What does the Common Poorwill sound like at night?

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Sounds at Night Heard after dark Common Resident

Press play. If that is the sound outside, you have your answer — the Common Poorwill's "poor-will-ip".

“poor-will-ip”

What you're hearing

A clear, whistled 'poor-will' or 'poor-will-ip' repeated monotonously throughout the night, especially on moonlit nights.

“poor-will-ip”

Birders often file this one under Song.

What time of night you hear it

Heaviest right at dusk and again near dawn, and it will keep going through the night on bright, moonlit nights. Spring and summer only across the arid West.

Nocturnal, most active at dusk and dawn when calling and feeding.

Why a Common Poorwill calls at night

The bird chants its own name from open, rocky, sagebrush ground — a soft, rounded poor-will repeated monotonously for minutes at a time, so evenly that people mistake it for a machine or a frog. It is hunting moths on the wing in the dark, and the song is territorial. It is also the only bird known to enter true extended torpor: when insects vanish and nights turn cold, a poorwill drops its body temperature to around 41°F, cuts oxygen use by more than 90%, and effectively hibernates in a rock crevice. The Hopi name for it, hölchoko, means "the sleeping one" — which is why the calling can stop dead for a stretch of cold weather and then resume as if nothing happened.

What else could it be?

The other voices you are most likely to hear in the dark. Play them and compare.

Common Nighthawk

Larger size with longer, more pointed wings

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Found in eastern woodlands rather than western arid habitats

Barred Owl

Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?

Common Poorwill night call FAQ

What does a Common Poorwill sound like at night?
A clear, whistled 'poor-will' or 'poor-will-ip' repeated monotonously throughout the night, especially on moonlit nights. Birders write it as "poor-will-ip".
What time of night do you hear Common Poorwills?
Heaviest right at dusk and again near dawn, and it will keep going through the night on bright, moonlit nights. Spring and summer only across the arid West.
Why is a Common Poorwill calling at night?
The bird chants its own name from open, rocky, sagebrush ground — a soft, rounded poor-will repeated monotonously for minutes at a time, so evenly that people mistake it for a machine or a frog. It is hunting moths on the wing in the dark, and the song is territorial. It is also the only bird known to enter true extended torpor: when insects vanish and nights turn cold, a poorwill drops its body temperature to around 41°F, cuts oxygen use by more than 90%, and effectively hibernates in a rock crevice. The Hopi name for it, hölchoko, means "the sleeping one" — which is why the calling can stop dead for a stretch of cold weather and then resume as if nothing happened.

More Common Poorwill sounds

Common Poorwill: the full species pageEvery sound we have, field marks, habitat and similar species.Common Poorwill songThe same bird, heard by day.Weird Bird Sounds at Night, Identified: Screeches, Squeaks & Trills (With Audio)It is 2:00 AM. The house is quiet. Then: SQUEAK. SQUEAK. If you have landed here, you are probably hearing weird bird sounds at night and trying to decide whether to call a mechanic, a ghost hunter, or a birdwatcher.Birds Singing at Night: The 6 Species You're Probably Hearing (Hear Each Call)Hear birds singing in the middle of the night? From owls and nightjars to mockingbirds and robins, learn who sings after dark and how to tell them apart by ear.Winter Bird Sounds: 5 Calls to Learn While It's Cold OutsideWinter is actually the best time to learn bird sounds. Fewer species, quieter woods, and bare branches that carry sound farther. Here are 5 birds you'll hear this winter — and how to recognize them by ear.