Grey Potoo

This potoo is a large cypselomorph bird related to the nightjars and frogmouths, but like other potoos it lacks the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars. It is 33-38cm long and pale greyish to brown, finely patterned with black and buff, camouflaged to look like a log; this is a safety measure to help protect it from predators, but its mode of perch is also a camouflage. It has large orange eyes.

The Grey Potoo is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Common Potoo, Grey Potoo or Lesser Potoo (Nyctibius griseus), is a nocturnal bird which breeds in tropical Central and South America from Costa Rica to northern Argentina and northern Uruguay. The Northern Potoo (N. jamaicensis) was formerly classified as a subspecies of this species. This potoo is a large cypselomorph bird related to the nightjars and frogmouths, but like other potoos it lacks the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars. More

If you are a bit lucky you can find a Grey Potoo resting in a tree. This one always returned to the same tree near the CVC visitor centre. More

canoe with a Grey Potoo at its day-roost, Band-tailed*-, Crested-, Green*- and Russet-backed Oropendola, Long-billed Woodcreeper*, Yellow-headed Caracara, Pauraque (seen), Mouse-coloured Antshrike (H)*, Cinnamon Attila (H)*. At dark heard Tawny-bellied Screech Owl*. 22-10-2000 At 05.30 to Sendero Limon. From the canoe we heard Amazonian Antshrike (H)*, saw a Sungrebe* and Chestnut Woodpecker*. At the trail we saw and heard many species. Sometimes you don't see a single bird for half an hour or so. Then you suddenly hear birdsounds again. More

Grey Potoo (Giant Nightjar, Common Potoo), Nyctibius griseus griseus Northern Potoo Family Podargidae frogmouths Tawny Frogmouth, Podarus strigoides Tawny Frogmouth Family Steatornithidae oilbirds Oilbird, Steatornis caripensis Oilbird > > > ORDER IMAGES > > > - | home | search | birds | mammals | reptiles | fish | insects | other invertebrates | More

Antpitta, Grey Potoo, Cloud-Forest Pygmy-Owl, Toucan Barbet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Wattled Guan, Andean Cock of the Rock, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Glossy-black Thrush and Strong-billed Woodcreeper*. Last morning in the Tandayapa Valley. New species were still coming. Saw Western Hemispingus*, Streak-capped Treehunter* and Spot-fronted Swift* which seems to be regular in the Tandayapa Valley. After lunch to Quito with Victor. A short stop at the White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant spot only produced Black-tailed Trainbearer and Tufted Tit-Tyrant. More

A Grey Potoo perched on a branch in French Guiana It's almost like nature is playing a huge game of hide-and-seek. More