Date: 7/14/26 10:58 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] the infamous Mesa College nightjar = likely Common Poorwill
The celebrity nightjar at San Diego Mesa College since July 5th was, of course, thought to be a whip-poor-will of some sort or possibly Buff-collared Nightjar. Fairly early in the game the possibility of Common Poorwill was thought eliminated by the apparent longish tail visible as the bird roosted on the ground. While some plumage features seemed fine for these rare species, some other finer plumage points, especially the crown pattern, could not be matched by Mexican or Eastern Whip-poor-wills or by Buff-collared Nightjar. (Nightjars can be notoriously variable in some plumage features, thus the lack of a clear match was not initially a cause of excess concern.) Aging the bird was also discussed, and it was generally agreed that the bird was a juvenile, born fairly recently, which would seemingly narrow down the options as to species. A couple of us also endeavored to use the original photo of the bird roosting up against a wall to then return to the exact site and obtain measurements to get a better handle on the bird's length--which resulted in an approximate estimated length of 7-1/2 inches, a bit too short for either Whip but OK for the nightjar (and a poorwill).
On Sunday evening, nearby mini-canyons bordering the campus were found to contain Common Poorwills, so that species was again revisited. It was determined that the bird was often holding its wings below and partially hidden by the tail, thus making the tail indeed look long. But when one obtained photos showing the full wing length lined up with the tail tip, the tail tip appeared to stick out beyond that only by a small amount. Also, looking at photos of juvenile Common Poorwill were a match for the overall plumage details, including the crown. Here is a link to one such bird from L.A. County:
So, the general consensus is that this bird is likely a juvenile Common Poorwill--initially fooling local birders as well as a good selection of outside experts who were sent series of photos.
A sample of the bird's poop and a feather were obtained late on Saturday and now reside in a freezer--for potential DNA analysis in the future if it is deemed necessary. Any volunteers?
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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