What does the Common Poorwill song sound like?

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

Song Common Resident

Play the real Common Poorwill song, the "poor-will-ip", and learn what to listen for.

“poor-will-ip”

What the Common Poorwill song sounds like

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

“poor-will-ip”

How to find the bird singing it

Shrubby, open areas in arid environments including rocky habitats with scattered bushes, sagebrush flats, and pinyon-juniper woodlands.

Cryptic Plumage: Gray-brown mottled plumage provides excellent camouflage against soil and leaf litter.
White Throat Patch: Narrow white throat patch visible when calling or displaying.
Small Size: Smaller than Common Nighthawk with more compact body and shorter wings.

When you'll hear it

Spring

Begin calling on warm nights; males establish territories with repeated 'poor-will' calls.

Summer

Breed in arid western habitats; often seen resting on dirt roads at night.

Fall

Some populations migrate south; others may begin periods of torpor as temperatures drop.

Winter

Southern populations remain active; northern birds may enter extended torpor or migrate.

Don’t confuse it with

Birds whose song gets mistaken for this one. Play them back to back.

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Found in eastern woodlands rather than western arid habitats

Common Poorwill song FAQ

What does a Common Poorwill song sound like?

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".

How do I tell a Common Poorwill from a Common Nighthawk by ear?

Common Nighthawk: Larger size with longer, more pointed wings; White wing bars visible in flight.

When is the best time to hear the Common Poorwill song?

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

More Common Poorwill sounds

Common Poorwill: the full species pageEvery sound we have, field marks, habitat and similar species.How to Learn Bird Songs by Ear: A Gentle Two-Week MethodLearning bird songs by ear sounds intimidating until you realize you already know a few — that robin in your yard, the chickadee at the feeder. Here is the gentle on-ramp: seven birds to learn first, a memory trick that works even if you cannot carry a tune, and a ten-minute-a-day rhythm that turns spring noise into named neighbors.How to Learn Bird Calls Fast: A 7-Day Spring PlanYou have seven days. You want seven birds. This is the plan: one new song per day, a mnemonic per bird, ten minutes you steal from your coffee break. Sunday-to-Sunday, you walk outside and a name lands in your head before you have time to think about it.The Dawn Chorus: Which Birds Sing First Each Morning (And Why)Every morning, as the first light touches the sky, birds like the American Robin and Northern Cardinal begin their symphony. But why do they choose dawn for their most vigorous singing?