About the Rufous Potoo
The rufous potoo is a species of bird in the family Nyctibiidae. It is the only member of the genus Phyllaemulor. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Suriname Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The rufous potoo is 21 to 25 cm (8.3 to 9.8 in) long and weighs 46 to 58 g (1.6 to 2.0 oz). The rufous potoo is the smallest member of its family, and the most unusually colored. It is overall a deep orange-red with large white spots; the color is paler on the throat. The spots on the upper belly have a thin black border and the tail has darker bars. It has long bristles in the loral region. It resembles a dead leaf, an impression heightened by its vertical posture on a roost, where it gently sways. Voice: The rufous potoo's song is "a soft, rapidly descending series of roughly 10–15 notes: “bu-bu-bu-bu-bu-bu..." or "whooo, tooo, tooo, tooo, tooo, tooo, tooo, tooo, tooo, tooo, tooo, toot" that resembles the songs of some small owls. It mostly, and perhaps exclusively, sings during a few days around the full moon. It also makes "wup" or "urt" calls.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Rufous Potoo lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Venezuela.
When to see the Rufous Potoo
Peak activity in September · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
White-winged PotooNyctibius leucopterusThe white-winged potoo has two forms that differ significantly in size but are almost identical otherwise.
Andean PotooNyctibius maculosusThe Andean potoo is 34 to 40.5 cm (13 to 16 in) long.
Long-tailed PotooNyctibius aethereusThe long-tailed potoo is 42 to 58 cm (17 to 23 in) long and weighs 280 to 447 g (9.9 to 15.8 oz).
Learn the Rufous Potoo in BeakBrain
Photo and call practice, free in any browser.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.