About the Eared Poorwill
The eared poorwill is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is endemic to Mexico.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The eared poorwill is 20 to 21 cm (7.9 to 8.3 in) long. Males weigh 30.8 to 37 g (1.1 to 1.3 oz) and females 24 to 35.3 g (0.85 to 1.2 oz). The nominate subspecies' upperparts are grayish with black and white spots on the wings. A white band that is wider on the throat encircles the neck. They have crown feathers that project as "ear tufts". The breast is grayish and the belly buff with white spots. The tail feathers except the central pair have white tips. There is also a rufous morph that has an overall cinnamon to reddish brown color. N. m. Voice: The male eared poorwill's song is "a loud, abrupt 'peeyo' or 'peejo' that ends emphatically", and is given at night from a perch or the ground. It also makes "a descending, wavering 'teu-uu-uu'." Calls include "gwik", "wuik", and "chuck" notes.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in March · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Choco PoorwillNyctiphrynus rosenbergiThe Chocó poorwill is 19.5 to 22.5 cm (7.7 to 8.9 in) long; one female weighed 52 g (1.8 oz).
Yucatan PoorwillNyctiphrynus yucatanicusThe Yucatan poorwill is 19.5 to 22 cm (7.7 to 8.7 in) long, making it the smallest species of nightjar in the Yucatán Peninsula.
Ocellated PoorwillNyctiphrynus ocellatusThe ocellated poorwill is 20 to 21 cm (7.9 to 8.3 in) long.
Learn the Eared Poorwill for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.