Potoo birds are nocturnal creatures known for their distinctive appearance. They possess large eyes and cryptic mottled plumage, allowing them to blend seamlessly into their environment. During daylight hours, Potoos often adopt a rigid, upright posture on tree branches or stumps, appearing almost indistinguishable from broken wood.
Broad Geographic Range
Potoo birds are exclusively found throughout the Neotropical region, spanning from Mexico in the north down to Argentina in the south. Their extensive range covers nearly every country in Central and South America, including Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. They are also present on several Caribbean islands, such as Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Tobago. The Amazon Basin holds the highest diversity of Potoo species, with five different types inhabiting this vast region. Potoos are sedentary, remaining within their established territories.
Preferred Habitats
Potoo birds primarily inhabit forested environments. Their preferred habitats include humid tropical and subtropical rainforests, drier deciduous forests, woodlands, and open savannas with scattered trees. They often perch on dead tree branches or stumps, where their gray, brown, and black plumage mimics bark. This blending allows them to remain undetected by predators during the day. Potoos also possess unique slits in their eyelids, enabling them to sense movement while keeping their eyes closed and maintaining their camouflaged posture.
Distribution by Species
Potoo species distributions vary.
Great Potoo
The Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis) has a broad distribution, extending from southern Mexico through Central America and across much of South America, reaching southeastern Brazil and Bolivia. This species prefers dense lowland forests, forest edges, and clearings.
Common Potoo
The Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus) is the most widespread species, found from Nicaragua southward through Central and South America to northern Argentina and Uruguay, including the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. This species inhabits open woodlands and savannas.
Rufous Potoo
In contrast, the Rufous Potoo (Phyllaemulor bracteatus) is the smallest and distinctively colored Potoo. It is localized within the Amazon Basin, spanning from Venezuela south to Peru and east into Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. This species occupies the under- and mid-stories of primary and mature secondary terra firme forests.
Other Species
Other species, like the Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis), are found from Mexico to Costa Rica and on specific Caribbean islands, while the Andean Potoo (Nyctibius maculosus) inhabits higher elevations in the humid forests of the Andes.