Rufous Potoo
Phyllaemulor bracteatus
Rufous Potoo (Phyllaemulor bracteatus) — Nightjars & Allies of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous Potoo (Phyllaemulor bracteatus) is a member of the Nyctibiidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 51.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Nyctibiiformes
- Family Nyctibiidae Potoos
- Genus Phyllaemulor
- Species bracteatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 51.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Nyctibiidae
- Order
- Nyctibiiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous Potoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rufous Potoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous Potoo (Phyllaemulor bracteatus) belongs to the Nyctibiidae family of the order Nyctibiiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Amazonia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 51.6 g, with a wing length of about 16.3 cm and a tail of around 13 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.5 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous Potoo?
The Rufous Potoo is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 51.6 g.
Where does the Rufous Potoo live?
The Rufous Potoo is found across South America with a range covering SA Amazonia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rufous Potoo belong to?
The Rufous Potoo (Phyllaemulor bracteatus) belongs to the Nyctibiidae family, in the order Nyctibiiformes.
What does the Rufous Potoo eat?
The Rufous Potoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous Potoo migrate?
The Rufous Potoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous Potoo endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Rufous Potoo's range?
The Rufous Potoo has a mapped global range of about 4.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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