Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis)

Order: Caprimulgiformes   | Family: Nyctibiidae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

great_potoo
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southeast Peru

great_potoo
Age: Adult & Chick | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southeast Peru

great_potoo
Age: Juvenile | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonian, Brazil

great_potoo
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonian, Brazil


Identification & Behavior: ~50.7 cm (20 in). The Great Potoo ranges in color from pale gray to brownish. Birds show an intricate pattern of fine barring in shades of gray, brown, and dusky. It is the only potoo with dark iris. The juvenile is nearly white. It is distinguished from other potoos by its overall paler coloration, large size, and by being largely restricted to the forest canopy. It is similar to the smaller Common Potoo but is distinguished by a pale coloration, large size, use of the forest canopy, and dark iris. Also see the Long-tailed potoo.

Status: The Great Potoo is uncommon and widespread in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 1000 m along the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Nictibio Grande.

Sub-species: Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis grandis), J. F. Gmelin, 1789.

Meaning of Name: Nyctibius: Gr. Nuktos: night and bioō: to live. grandis: L. grandis= large.

See more of the Family Nyctibiidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
great_potooVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 08/01/2015.