White-winged Potoo vs Andean Potoo
Nyctibius leucopterus compared with Nyctibius maculosus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-winged Potoo | Andean Potoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nyctibius leucopterus | Nyctibius maculosus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Nyctibiidae | Nyctibiidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.8 cm (14.5 in) | 54.2 cm (21.3 in) |
| Weight | 87.5 g (3.09 oz) | 174.0 g (6.14 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; launches from a branch perch to catch large flying insects including hawk-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
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
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
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.
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
White-winged Potoo
Andean Potoo
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
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
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.
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.