Information About The Potoo Bird

The potoo bird is one of the strangest nocturnal birds in appearance and behavior. The following is the most important information related to this bird:

The appearance

The potoo bird is a mixture between an owl and a nighthawk . This bird is distinguished by its large head and huge yellow eyes. It appears in a grayish-brown color with some black lines. It is distinguished by its small, slightly hooked beak and its wide mouth, which gives it a suspicious appearance. The mass of this bird ranges from 360 to 650 grams, its length ranges from 48 to 60 cm, while its wingspan ranges from 70 to 80.4 cm.

Home

Potos are distributed from southern Mexico to northeastern Guatemala, and are also found in Central America and much of northern South America. They can also live in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Peru, and Venezuela.

Poto birds inhabit humid and sub-humid forests, lowlands with dense vegetation, in addition to cultivated lands and forest edges, but they can be found in most habitats where there are trees, which in turn provide them with camouflage, which includes : Hills, meadows, and open woodlands.

the behavior

Poto birds spend the day in a dormant period and begin their nocturnal activity, hunting flying insects and some small birds. They spend the night waiting for their prey before pouncing on them and eating them with their large mouths. Their wings and long tails help them maneuver while chasing prey around trees

Potoo birds can be noticed at night by the brightness of their eyes and the frightening sounds they make to communicate with each other. Each type of potoo bird has its own unique call that it uses to communicate with members of its species. The sound may be issued in the form of screams, singing, or roaring.

Poto birds rely on camouflage technology to hide from predators that are lurking for them. Due to their similarity in color to tree branches, they usually sit on a dead tree branch, at a sharp angle. They remain completely still and close their eyes. Some of them raise their beaks upward, making it resemble a branch. These birds can sense movement even if their eyes are closed, which helps them monitor predators.

Reproduction

The breeding season for potoos begins early in February and continues until August, and usually coincides with the rainy season in the areas where they live, but breeding conditions for these birds can be available in some areas throughout the year.

Female potoos lay one egg each breeding season, and the egg remains for an incubation period of about one month, after which it hatches into a young weighing 217 grams at a few days old. After 5 weeks, these young appear in a form similar to their parents, but with a smaller size and lighter feathers. After two months, the young leave the nest to continue their lives alone, and throughout their time in the nest, the parents are keen to embrace them, feed them, and guard them from predators .

nutrition

Poto birds are carnivores. They feed on large flying insects, especially large beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers. They can also feed on bats and some other small birds.