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Long-tailed Potoo

Nyctibius aethereus

Least Concern

Envergure

66,4 cm

Poids

363,5 g

Famille

Nyctibiidae

Ordre

Caprimulgiformes

À propos

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.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Envergure	66,4 cm	26.1 in
Poids	363,5 g	12.82 oz

Identification

Plumage

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 with proportionally longer tail.

Habitat & Range

🌲 Forest

Répartition géographique

Found in disjunct populations in eastern Brazil, the Amazon basin, and the Guiana Shield south to Bolivia. Resident in humid forest and forest edge.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly nocturnal; waits motionless on a perch then sallies to catch large flying insects, mainly moths and beetles.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Comportement et reproduction

Nidification

Nest type: NO. Incubation: 21-28 days. Fledging: 17-29 days.

Taille de la couvée

Son

Chant

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

Taxonomie

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordre	Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts)
Famille	Nyctibiidae (Potoos)
Genus	Nyctibius
Espèces	Nyctibius aethereus

Distribution

Long-tailed Potoo has been recorded in 4 countries.

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Présent Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇳🇴 Norway 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇻🇪 Venezuela

External Databases

Foire aux questions

What does the Long-tailed Potoo eat?

Strictly nocturnal; waits motionless on a perch then sallies to catch large flying insects, mainly moths and beetles.

Where does the Long-tailed Potoo live?

Found in disjunct populations in eastern Brazil, the Amazon basin, and the Guiana Shield south to Bolivia. Resident in humid forest and forest edge.

Is the Long-tailed Potoo endangered?

The Long-tailed Potoo has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Long-tailed Potoo nest?

Nest type: NO. Incubation: 21-28 days. Fledging: 17-29 days.

What does the Long-tailed Potoo sound like?

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

How big is the Long-tailed Potoo?

The Long-tailed Potoo has a wingspan of 66.4 cm, weight of 363.5 g.

What order and family does the Long-tailed Potoo belong to?

The Long-tailed Potoo (Nyctibius aethereus) belongs to the order Caprimulgiformes and the family Nyctibiidae.