Great Potoo
Nyctibius grandis
The great potoo has a large head in relation to its body, large, dark brown eyes, and a short but broad beak. Their wings are elliptical in shape, their tail is elongated, and their feathers are white, gray, black, and burgundy. The tail colors match with that of the rest of the body, with the exception of white bars that can be seen going across the tail laterally. Range in Mass: 360 to 650 g (13 to 23 oz) Range in Length: 480 to 600 mm (19 to 24 in) Range in wingspan: 700 to 804 mm (27.6 to 31.7 in) Average Wingspan: 734.8 mm (28.93 in)
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Northern Potoo
Nyctibius jamaicensis
It is a fairly large bird with a length of 38–46 centimetres. It has a long tail, long pointed wings, large head, very short legs and a small bill with a large gape. It is most commonly seen perched motionless in an upright position on branches or posts. The plumage is grey-brown with an intricate pattern of black, grey and cream markings. The cheeks are pale with a dark malar stripe below them. The large eye has a yellow iris which can shine red in light at night. The bird's calls are hoarse and guttural.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where you might meet both
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Play today's Daily BirdPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Great Potoo and Northern Potoo.