Andean Potoo vs Rufous Potoo
Nyctibius maculosus compared with Phyllaemulor bracteatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andean Potoo | Rufous Potoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nyctibius maculosus | Phyllaemulor bracteatus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Nyctibiidae | Nyctibiidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 54.2 cm (21.3 in) | 32.5 cm (12.8 in) |
| Weight | 174.0 g (6.14 oz) | 50.666666666666664 g (1.79 oz) |
| Diet | Perch-hunting nocturnal insectivore targeting large moths, beetles, and occasional bats in extended sallying flights from … | 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
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
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
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.
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
Andean Potoo
Rufous Potoo
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
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
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.
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.