Birds of Guyana

    NYCTIBIIFORMES: Nyctibiidae (Potoos)  
Genus: Nyctibius (4 species, 6 worldwide)

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


Long-tailed Potoo
Long-tailed Potoo (Nyctibius aethereus aethereus)
REGUA, Cachoeiras de Macacu, RJ, Brazil  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Larger and browner than the Common Potoo, with a longer wider tail. Yellow eyes. Also has a light buff vertical shoulder patch about half length of wing.
Browner in evening light, with head horizontal.

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.

White-winged Potoo
White-winged Potoo (Nyctibius leucopterus)
Brazil  
   
Photograph by Ciro Albano - NE Brazil Birding   © All Rights Reserved.

Very rare, local and poorly known.


© Tom Friedel - All Rights Reserved, except for images and data otherwise noted.       Colombia       Panama       Ecuador       Costa Rica       Mexico
Experimental sites:       Peru       Venezuela       The World       Brazil       Bolivia
Really Experimental sites:       Guyana       Cuba