Common Potoo

The Common Potoo, also known as the Poor-me-ones or Urutau, is a master of disguise with its mottled red-brown, white, black, and grey plumage. This nocturnal bird, related to nightjars and frogmouths, is distinguished by its large, yellow eyes and wide mouth, which lacks the bristles characteristic of true nightjars.

Identification Tips

Adult Common Potoos measure 34–38 cm in length. Their cryptic plumage allows them to blend seamlessly into their perches. Both sexes are similar in appearance and indistinguishable in the field. The eyes can appear as large yellow irises or as black dots, depending on how the bird constricts its pupils. A notable feature is the tooth in the upper mandible, aiding in foraging.

Habitat

The Common Potoo is a resident breeder in open woodlands and savannahs, preferring areas that are not too arid or cold. It is typically found at elevations below 1,900 meters.

Distribution

This species is widespread across South America, from Trinidad and Tobago to every mainland country except Chile. It is also found from eastern Nicaragua through Costa Rica and Panama, and west of the Andes from northwestern Venezuela through Colombia and Ecuador into northwestern Peru.

Behaviour

The Common Potoo is known for its masquerading behavior, where it mimics the perch it rests on to avoid detection. It can adjust its perching angle and, when threatened, assumes a "freezing" posture with its beak pointed upwards and eyes closed, though it can still see through slits in its eyelids.

Song & Calls

The Common Potoo's song is a haunting, melancholic BO-OU that decreases in pitch and volume. When threatened, it may produce a squeaky sound similar to that of a crow.

Breeding

Monogamous by nature, the Common Potoo lays a single white egg with lilac spots directly onto a tree limb depression. Both parents share brooding responsibilities equally. The nesting period is approximately 51 days, one of the longest for birds of its size.

Similar Species

The Northern Potoo was once considered conspecific but was split based on vocal differences. The Northern Potoo's call is deeper and more dramatic.

Diet and Feeding

As a nocturnal insectivore, the Common Potoo hunts from a perch, capturing insects with its wide mouth. Its diet includes flies, moths, ants, termites, grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets.

Conservation Status

The IUCN has classified the Common Potoo as Least Concern due to its large range and population. However, there is a noted decline in numbers, likely due to habitat destruction.