Birds of Costa Rica

○   ←   NYCTIBIIFORMES: Nyctibiidae (Potoos)   →
Genus: Nyctibius (3 species, 6 worldwide)

Genus Nyctibius, Potoos, are large nightbirds which perch upright during the day on an open perch, usually using camouflage.


Great Potoo
Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis)
Bahia Solano, Choco, Colombia   		   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.
Large: over half a meter from head to tail. Note light color and scary call heard at night.
At night.


Common Potoo
Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus)
Laguna Sonso, Buga, Colombia   		   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.
At around 35 cm., significantly smaller than the Long-tailed Potoo and Great Potoo. Has variation of color from reddish brown to greyish brown. Note bright yellow eye.
At night.

Northern Potoo
Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis costaricensis)
Cerro Grande, Belen de Carrillo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica   		   
Photograph by Jorge Obando Gutierrez   © Copyrighted, All Rights Reserved.


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