In Orange County’s scrub country, the nights are ruled by quiet, creeping forms that specialize in navigating a low-light environment. One of them is the common poorwill. Like other nocturnal species, ...

To me, one bird call sums up a night in the Great Basin. This call is only heard at night. I hear it while camping somewhere, ...

Michael Palin presents the common poorwill from an Arizona desert. In the dead of night, loud calls pierce the stillness on a moonlit track, a small shape suddenly sprouts wings and flutters into the ...

Common Poorwill Bird Walk: 7 p.m. June 26, July 3 and 31, Mount Diablo. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Trailhead, 96 Mitchell Canyon Road, Walnut Creek. Denise Wight leads this four-mile, two hour hike. $6 ...