Common Potoo vs Rufous Potoo
Nyctibius griseus compared with Phyllaemulor bracteatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Potoo | Rufous Potoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nyctibius griseus | Phyllaemulor bracteatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Nyctibiidae | Nyctibiidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 51.3 cm (20.2 in) | 32.5 cm (12.8 in) |
| Weight | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) | 50.666666666666664 g (1.79 oz) |
| Diet | Strictly nocturnal insectivore; hunts from a upright perch by detecting flying moths and large beetles … | Night hunter using still-perch strategy; catches large moths, beetles, and flying bugs in single powerful … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Common Potoo
Haunting, descending 'POOR-me-ONE'; mournful wail of 5-6 notes; iconic sound of Neotropical nights; calls from high snag; female answer slightly higher-pitched
Rufous Potoo
Wailing, mournful whistle; descending 'woooo' with eerie quality; calls solitarily at night from Amazonian forest; softer and higher than Great Potoo; haunting tone
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Potoo
Found across tropical South America east of the Andes south to Bolivia and Argentina. Resident in forest edge, savanna woodland, and open areas.
Rufous Potoo
Found in the Amazon basin from Colombia and Venezuela south to Bolivia and Brazil. Resident in lowland tropical rainforest; camouflaged by day.
Conservation Status
Common Potoo
Rufous Potoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Potoo
Cryptic grey-brown upperparts with intricate black, buff, and white streaking; underparts pale with brown shaft streaks; large yellow eyes with slit pupils; polymorphic—some individuals more rufous-brown; masterful bark-mimic when roosting.
Rufous Potoo
Distinctly rufous-chestnut overall with dark brown streaks and pale buff vermiculations; underparts paler rufous with dark barring; large yellow eyes; richest coloration among potoos, unlike the greyer larger species.
About These Birds
Common Potoo
A medium-sized potoo (33-38 cm) widespread across Central and South America. Grey-brown plumage provides outstanding camouflage on tree stumps. Nocturnal insectivore with enormous eyes and wide gape. Famous for its eerie, descending mournful cry that carries through tropical forests at night.
Rufous Potoo
A small potoo (21-25 cm) of lowland tropical forests from Costa Rica to Brazil. Warm rufous-brown plumage with intricate barring. Nocturnal insectivore, perching motionlessly during the day to resemble a broken branch. The smallest and most colorful member of the potoo family.