🐦

Northern Potoo

Nyctibius jamaicensis

Least Concern

Envergadura

58,0 cm

Peso

260,425 g

Familia

Nyctibiidae

Orden

Caprimulgiformes

Acerca de

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.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Envergadura	58,0 cm	22.8 in
Peso	260,425 g	9.19 oz

Identificación

Plumaje

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.

Habitat & Range

🌲 Bosque

Distribución geográfica

Found from Mexico and Jamaica through Central America. Resident in open woodland, forest edge, and semi-open habitats up to 1,500 m elevation.

Diet & Feeding

Nocturnal sit-and-wait predator; sallies from a fixed perch to capture large flying insects, especially moths and beetles, in open aerial pursuits.

Estado de conservación

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Comportamiento y reproducción

Nidificación

Nest type: SC.

Tamaño de la puesta

Sonido

Canto

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

Taxonomía

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Orden	Caprimulgiformes (Chotacabras y Vencejos)
Familia	Nyctibiidae (Nictibios)
Genus	Nyctibius
Especies	Nyctibius jamaicensis

Distribution

Northern Potoo has been recorded in 1 countries.

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Presente Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇳🇴 Noruega

External Databases

Preguntas frecuentes

What does the Northern Potoo eat?

Nocturnal sit-and-wait predator; sallies from a fixed perch to capture large flying insects, especially moths and beetles, in open aerial pursuits.

Where does the Northern Potoo live?

Found from Mexico and Jamaica through Central America. Resident in open woodland, forest edge, and semi-open habitats up to 1,500 m elevation.

Is the Northern Potoo endangered?

The Northern Potoo has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Northern Potoo nest?

Nest type: SC.

What does the Northern Potoo sound like?

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

How big is the Northern Potoo?

The Northern Potoo has a wingspan of 58.0 cm, weight of 260.425 g.

What order and family does the Northern Potoo belong to?

The Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis) belongs to the order Caprimulgiformes and the family Nyctibiidae.