The Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis)
The Pantanal
Brazil
South America
The Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis) is the largest potoo species and the largest member of the order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies). It occurs in tropical America. It ranges from southern Mexico through northeastern Guatemala and through most of Central America down through South America as far as Bolivia and southeastern Brazil. Like most members of their order, the Great Potoo has plumage that is well-suited for camouflage.
The song is described as deep, guttural, strangled cries like borrrrrr or oorrroo repeated after a consistent interval of 10 to 20 seconds.
The Great Potoo is found mostly in dense lowland forest, forest edges and clearings. It may also range into foothills (up to about 1,500 m elevation), second-growth, open woodlands, and is sometimes seen around meadows, but they always require trees-etc., for their camouflaged imitative perch.
This nocturnal predator is usually seen perched high above the ground while foraging, sallying out when prey is spotted. The prey consists mostly of large flying insects, especially large beetles, katydids and Orthoptera (including crickets and grasshoppers). This species uses the sit and wait method where it will sit on an exposed perch waiting for a prey item to fly by then will dart out and return to the branch with it.
Normally, during the day it perches upright on a tree stump, and is overlooked because it resembles part of the stump; this is a camouflage, not just by coloration, but a camouflage by the setting. The Great Potoo can be located at night by the reflection of light from its eyes as it sits vertical on a post, roost, or angled-tree trunk.
Although the adult potoo likely has few natural predators, predation of eggs, nestlings and fledging is apparently not uncommon. Adults stay near the nest throughout the day and rely upon camoflauge to protect their offspring. Predators of Great Potoo nests in Costa Rica have included monkeys as well as Tayras and Collared Forest Falcons.
The Great Potoo is normally described as "uncommon", but occurs frequently in areas of less disturbed forests. The clearing of forest is the only conservation threat known to this bird. Due to its large range, it is considered a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN.
The Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis)
The Pantanal
Brazil
South America
The Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis) is the largest potoo species and the largest member of the order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies). It occurs in tropical America. It ranges from southern Mexico through northeastern Guatemala and through most of Central America down through South America as far as Bolivia and southeastern Brazil. Like most members of their order, the Great Potoo has plumage that is well-suited for camouflage.
The song is described as deep, guttural, strangled cries like borrrrrr or oorrroo repeated after a consistent interval of 10 to 20 seconds.
The Great Potoo is found mostly in dense lowland forest, forest edges and clearings. It may also range into foothills (up to about 1,500 m elevation), second-growth, open woodlands, and is sometimes seen around meadows, but they always require trees-etc., for their camouflaged imitative perch.
This nocturnal predator is usually seen perched high above the ground while foraging, sallying out when prey is spotted. The prey consists mostly of large flying insects, especially large beetles, katydids and Orthoptera (including crickets and grasshoppers). This species uses the sit and wait method where it will sit on an exposed perch waiting for a prey item to fly by then will dart out and return to the branch with it.
Normally, during the day it perches upright on a tree stump, and is overlooked because it resembles part of the stump; this is a camouflage, not just by coloration, but a camouflage by the setting. The Great Potoo can be located at night by the reflection of light from its eyes as it sits vertical on a post, roost, or angled-tree trunk.
Although the adult potoo likely has few natural predators, predation of eggs, nestlings and fledging is apparently not uncommon. Adults stay near the nest throughout the day and rely upon camoflauge to protect their offspring. Predators of Great Potoo nests in Costa Rica have included monkeys as well as Tayras and Collared Forest Falcons.
The Great Potoo is normally described as "uncommon", but occurs frequently in areas of less disturbed forests. The clearing of forest is the only conservation threat known to this bird. Due to its large range, it is considered a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN.