Common Potoo vs White-winged Potoo
Nyctibius griseus comparé à Nyctibius leucopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Common Potoo | White-winged Potoo |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Nyctibius griseus | Nyctibius leucopterus |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Nyctibiidae | Nyctibiidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 51,3 cm (20.2 in) | 36,8 cm (14.5 in) |
| Poids | 165,66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) | 87,5 g (3.09 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Strictly nocturnal insectivore; hunts from a upright perch by detecting flying moths and large beetles … | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; launches from a branch perch to catch large flying insects including hawk-moths … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Common Potoo
Haunting, descending 'POOR-me-ONE'; mournful wail of 5-6 notes; iconic sound of Neotropical nights; calls from high snag; female answer slightly higher-pitched
White-winged Potoo
High, thin whistled wail; lighter and airier than other potoos; calls at night from Amazonian forest; descending mournful phrase; smaller size reflected in higher pitch
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Potoo
Found across tropical South America east of the Andes south to Bolivia and Argentina. Resident in forest edge, savanna woodland, and open areas.
White-winged Potoo
Found in the eastern Amazon basin of Brazil and adjacent Suriname. Rare and restricted to upland forest in the Guiana Shield. Poorly known.
Statut de conservation
Common Potoo
White-winged Potoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Potoo
Cryptic grey-brown upperparts with intricate black, buff, and white streaking; underparts pale with brown shaft streaks; large yellow eyes with slit pupils; polymorphic—some individuals more rufous-brown; masterful bark-mimic when roosting.
White-winged Potoo
Small potoo; brown upperparts with black streaks and buff mottling; distinctive white or pale buff wing coverts creating paler wing panel; underparts pale buff with dark streaks; smaller and paler-winged …
About These Birds
Common Potoo
A medium-sized potoo (33-38 cm) widespread across Central and South America. Grey-brown plumage provides outstanding camouflage on tree stumps. Nocturnal insectivore with enormous eyes and wide gape. Famous for its eerie, descending mournful cry that carries through tropical forests at night.
White-winged Potoo
A small potoo (24-27 cm) recently described from the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. White patches on wing coverts distinguish it from other potoos. Nocturnal insectivore of humid lowland forest. Classified as Near Threatened due to severe Atlantic Forest fragmentation.