Great Potoo vs Northern Potoo
Nyctibius grandis comparé à Nyctibius jamaicensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Great Potoo | Northern Potoo |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Nyctibius grandis | Nyctibius jamaicensis |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Nyctibiidae | Nyctibiidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 74,8 cm (29.4 in) | 58,0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Poids | 492,0 g (17.35 oz) | 260,425 g (9.19 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Nocturnal insectivore and occasional small vertebrate predator; hunts from perch by sight, targeting large moths … | Nocturnal sit-and-wait predator; sallies from a fixed perch to capture large flying insects, especially moths … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Great Potoo
Loud, haunting 'BWAAAOW'; booming wail; very large bird produces deep, resonant, mournful cry; carries far through tropical forest at night; deeply unsettling 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
Great Potoo
Found from Mexico and Trinidad south through Central America and South America to Argentina. Resident in forest edge and woodland up to 1,500 m.
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.
Statut de conservation
Great Potoo
Northern Potoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Great Potoo
Predominantly greyish-white with intricate black and brown vermiculations and streaks; underparts paler with fine dark freckling; large orange-yellow eyes; mimics broken branch when perched upright; largest potoo species.
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
Great Potoo
The largest potoo (48-60 cm) with enormous eyes and a massive gape. Pale grey-brown plumage with bold streaks and vermiculations. Found in humid forests from Mexico to Brazil. Nocturnal insectivore with an extraordinary, deeply booming growling call. Perches upright on branches by day.
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.