Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

Description:

In the summer Common Poorwills call from the hillsides in the southwest US. They are best spotted by driving slowly along the dirt roads in their territory at night, since they like to sit on roads for some reason - they flutter up in front of the lights when you get too close. This one was on the slopes above Peck's Lake [Arizona], 5/19/99, just after sunset.