The Common Poorwill is a small nightjar found in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson. This stocky bird has a pale brown body with white and black mottling. They wear a white collar around their throat, with a black band delineating the patch from the rest of the body. The rounded wings are also mottled brown, and the fan-shaped tail has white-tipped edges. This is the smallest species of its family in North America.
The Common Poorwill is very adept at regulating its body temperature to survive very cold nights. A form of hibernation, it can go without food or water while waiting for temperatures to warm up. This is an uncommon trait in the bird world.
The name Poowill comes from a Navajo word, and since it means “The Sleeping One”, obviously the tribe was aware of their unique behavior.
Reference: The Nature of Madera Canyon by Douglas W. Moore, Friends of Madera, 1999; whatbird.com
Comments