Northern Potoo vs White-winged Potoo
Nyctibius jamaicensis compared with Nyctibius leucopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Potoo | White-winged Potoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nyctibius jamaicensis | Nyctibius leucopterus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Nyctibiidae | Nyctibiidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) | 36.8 cm (14.5 in) |
| Weight | 260.425 g (9.19 oz) | 87.5 g (3.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal sit-and-wait predator; sallies from a fixed perch to capture large flying insects, especially moths … | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; launches from a branch perch to catch large flying insects including hawk-moths … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Northern Potoo
Loud, mournful 'waaah' or 'pow-wow'; descending wail from Caribbean forest; calls persistently at night from tall perch; similar to Common Potoo but slightly deeper
White-winged Potoo
High, thin whistled wail; lighter and airier than other potoos; calls at night from Amazonian forest; descending mournful phrase; smaller size reflected in higher pitch
Geographic Range & Migration
Northern Potoo
Found from Mexico and Jamaica through Central America. Resident in open woodland, forest edge, and semi-open habitats up to 1,500 m elevation.
White-winged Potoo
Found in the eastern Amazon basin of Brazil and adjacent Suriname. Rare and restricted to upland forest in the Guiana Shield. Poorly known.
Conservation Status
Northern Potoo
White-winged Potoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Northern Potoo
Grey-brown upperparts with complex black and buff vermiculations; underparts pale grey with dark brown streaks; large yellow eyes; smaller and paler than Common Potoo; some individuals show more tawny-brown tones.
White-winged Potoo
Small potoo; brown upperparts with black streaks and buff mottling; distinctive white or pale buff wing coverts creating paler wing panel; underparts pale buff with dark streaks; smaller and paler-winged …
About These Birds
Northern Potoo
A medium-sized potoo (38-46 cm) found from Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean. Pale grey-brown plumage provides excellent camouflage against tree bark. Nocturnal insectivore with large eyes adapted for night vision. Known for its haunting, descending whistled song.
White-winged Potoo
A small potoo (24-27 cm) recently described from the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. White patches on wing coverts distinguish it from other potoos. Nocturnal insectivore of humid lowland forest. Classified as Near Threatened due to severe Atlantic Forest fragmentation.