Great Potoo

Nyctibius grandis

Least ConcernUncommonInvertebratesForestCavity nestLarge · 547 g

About the Great Potoo

The great potoo or grand potoo is the largest potoo species and is widely distributed in Central and South America.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

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)

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Great Potoo sounds like

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Paraguay.

When to see it

Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the Great Potoo for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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