Northern Potoo vs Andean Potoo
Nyctibius jamaicensis compared with Nyctibius maculosus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Potoo | Andean Potoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nyctibius jamaicensis | Nyctibius maculosus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Nyctibiidae | Nyctibiidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) | 54.2 cm (21.3 in) |
| Weight | 260.425 g (9.19 oz) | 174.0 g (6.14 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal sit-and-wait predator; sallies from a fixed perch to capture large flying insects, especially moths … | Perch-hunting nocturnal insectivore targeting large moths, beetles, and occasional bats in extended sallying flights from … |
| 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
Andean Potoo
Mournful wailing whistle; similar to Common Potoo but calls from Andean forest at higher elevations; slightly slower and lower-pitched; haunting descending phrase
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.
Andean Potoo
Found in the Andes from Venezuela and Colombia south to Bolivia at 1,500–3,400 m. Resident in montane cloud forest and forest edge. Uncommon.
Conservation Status
Northern Potoo
Andean 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.
Andean Potoo
Dark brown upperparts with bold black and buff spotting forming mottled pattern; underparts brown with buff and white barring; more heavily spotted above than Common Potoo; Andean montane habitat reflected …
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.
Andean Potoo
A medium-sized potoo (33-38 cm) of Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Bolivia, at elevations of 1,000-3,000 m. Darker plumage than Common Potoo with bolder markings. Nocturnal insectivore. A poorly known montane species; limited ecological information available.