Photo: dominic sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Potoo
Nyctibius jamaicensis
Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis) — Nightjars & Allies of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis) is a member of the Nyctibiidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 266 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 Nyctibius
- Species jamaicensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 266 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Nyctibiidae
- Order
- Nyctibiiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern 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 Northern Potoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis) is a member of the Nyctibiidae family, within the order Nyctibiiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers MA, NA Mexico to Costa Rica; Greater Antilles.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 266 g, with a wing length of about 29 cm and a tail of around 20.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 782,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Potoo?
The Northern Potoo is a large bird that weighs around 266 g.
Where does the Northern Potoo live?
The Northern Potoo is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering MA, NA Mexico to Costa Rica; Greater Antilles, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Northern Potoo belong to?
The Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis) belongs to the Nyctibiidae family, in the order Nyctibiiformes.
What does the Northern Potoo eat?
The Northern Potoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Northern Potoo migrate?
The Northern Potoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Northern 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.
What sound does the Northern Potoo make?
1 real field recording of the Northern Potoo — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Northern Potoo's range?
The Northern Potoo has a mapped global range of about 782,000 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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