Long-tailed Potoo vs Northern Potoo
Nyctibius aethereus verglichen mit Nyctibius jamaicensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Long-tailed Potoo | Northern Potoo |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Nyctibius aethereus | Nyctibius jamaicensis |
| Ordnung | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Familie | Nyctibiidae | Nyctibiidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 66,4 cm (26.1 in) | 58,0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Gewicht | 363,5 g (12.82 oz) | 260,425 g (9.19 oz) |
| Ernährung | Strictly nocturnal; waits motionless on a perch then sallies to catch large flying insects, mainly … | Nocturnal sit-and-wait predator; sallies from a fixed perch to capture large flying insects, especially moths … |
| Gelegegröße | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Long-tailed Potoo
Wailing, melancholy 'waaaa-waaaa'; descending mournful notes; calls from high forest canopy at night; lower and more drawn out than Common Potoo; eerie nocturnal sound
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
Geographic Range & Migration
Long-tailed Potoo
Found in disjunct populations in eastern Brazil, the Amazon basin, and the Guiana Shield south to Bolivia. Resident in humid forest and forest edge.
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.
Erhaltungsstatus
Long-tailed Potoo
Northern Potoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Long-tailed Potoo
Dark brown overall with heavy blackish streaks and pale buff mottling; underparts barred brown and buff; notably long tail projects well beyond wing tips; darker and browner than Great Potoo …
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.
About These Birds
Long-tailed Potoo
A large potoo (43-50 cm) with a notably long graduated tail. Rich brown plumage with dark streaking. Found in humid lowland and montane forests from Central America to Brazil. Nocturnal insectivore, catching large moths and beetles in sallying flights. Rare and seldom observed.
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.