Rufous potoo

The rufous potoo (Nyctibius bracteatus)[2] is a species of bird in the Nyctibiidae family. Its common name refers to its rufous, or reddish-brown color. Their species name bracteatus is Latin for "gold-leaf".

Rufous potoo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Nyctibiidae
Genus: Nyctibius
Species:
N. bracteatus
Binomial name
Nyctibius bracteatus
Gould, 1846

Description

The rufous potoo is the smallest member of its genus, and extremely well-camouflaged, being almost invisible among dead leaves, trees and other plants. Its body is, like the common name implies, rufous with white spots on the underbody. To improve their camouflage even further, they will rock back and forth while roosting to even closer resemble a dead leaf. They sing almost exclusively on full moons.[3]

Reproduction

This species has a unique nesting habit. They make their nest upon a broken, vertical branch and produce one egg with unerring aim into their nest. Their dead-leaf like movements make this effective camouflage for predators that would prey upon their offspring.[4]

Distribution

It is found in Ecuador (the northeast, about 25% of the country) and Peru in the largest population, and the other large disjunct population 1600 km southwest at the Peru and Bolivia border (about 1/30 of Peru). Other far smaller locales occur in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, and Guyana. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.[5] Until around the 1980s, very few people had managed to see one alive; however, they are currently regarded as a least concern by the IUCN due to their large range; however, the population has experienced an ongoing decrease.[1][6]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Nyctibius bracteatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. "Rufous Potoo (Nyctibius bracteatus) Gould, 1846". Avibase. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  3. "Rufous Potoo - Nyctibius bracteatus - Birds of the World". birdsoftheworld.org. doi:10.2173/bow.rufpot1.01. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  4. Whitney, Bret. "Bird Buzz: Rufous Potoo". Field Guides. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  5. "Rufous Potoo - Nyctibius bracteatus - Birds of the World". birdsoftheworld.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  6. Stotz, D. F.; Fitzpatrick, J. W.; Parker, T. A.; Moskovits, D. K. 1996. Neotropical birds: ecology and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.


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