Potoo

Potoo is defined as a type of nocturnal bird. This bird belongs to the family  Nyctibiidae, potoo birds are also sometimes more commonly known as the poor-me-ones bird. Potoo birds share similarities with the other birds of the family, examples of such birds that share similarities with potoo include,  nightjars and frogmouths. Potoo birds can be physically defined as medium-size, nocturnal birds with a large head, another significant morphological characteristic is the presence of poorly developed bristles on the face. 

This article focuses on the general description of the bird, habitat, and distribution of Potoo, taxonomical classification, behaviour, feeding ecology, and diet. This article also gives a brief description of the different potoo bird species. The article also deals with the evolution and systematics of the bird.

Potoo Description

A potoo is a bird that belongs to the genus Nyctibius. There are about seven identified species of potoo bird.  An interesting potoo bird fact is that these birds are nocturnal, they are insectivorous, that is the diet of these birds are primarily dependent on the different types of insects. They share their features with birds like whippoorwill which belong to the North American regions. The name potoo originates from the wailing cry that the bird produces. The sound of the cry resembles the word, “po-TOO.” Even though a potoo is categorized as a bird, which commonly prefers living in groups or pairs, they (potoo) prefer to live in solitary which is not commonly seen in the aves community. The distinctive morphological feature of the bird includes its cryptically coloured body, another feature is its large head. The poorly or incompletely developed facial bristles are the morphological markers of the bird. They are also known for their slightly bulgy and big shaped eyes.

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Taxonomic Classification

Taxonomic classification is defined as the classification system in which each animal or better to say organism is categorized into different groups, they are categorized based on the similarity they share with other organisms. Taxa refer to the unit that is used for classifying the animals. It is important to understand the taxonomic classification of the organism to understand the taxonomic classification of the animals to understand the relationship of the animal. The taxonomic classification also gives us an idea about its evolution and phylogenetic relationship, as well as the diversity of the animal. The taxonomic classification of the Poto bird is mentioned below.

Potoo bird is classified into the kingdom Animalia, the kingdom with the highest rank of classification, they are further classified as a phylum. These birds belong to the phylum called Chordata, the significant characteristic of the Chordata is the presence of the notochord or vertebral column. The vertebral column is generally known as the spinal cord. The other significant features that are required to be classified as chordate includes the presence of the following during any period of their complete life span,  notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail. Another important feature that the Potoo bird shares as it is classified under this phylum are the following: they have a bilaterally symmetrical body, have a coelom, possess a circulatory system, and exhibit metameric segmentation.

They are further classified into classes, potoo belongs to the class Aves. all the birds that are known are generally classified under this class. Aves consist of a group of warm-blooded birds. The characteristic feature required for this classification is the presence of feathers, toothless beaked jaws, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweight skeleton. Another feature of the aves includes the production of hard-shelled eggs and a high metabolic rate. The potoo bird has all the mentioned features of the Aves. 

The class is further classified into orders, Potoo belongs to the order Caprimulgiformes. Caprimulgiformes have the characteristic feature that all the aves classified in this order are nocturnal and carnivorous, specifically insectivorous. As it is known with potoo birds they are nocturnal and insectivorous. According to some taxonomic classification systems, the order is further divided into suborders named Caprimulgi. 

They are further classified in the genus, the potoo belongs to the Nyctibius. There are seven identified species of potoo bird that are classified under this genus. Some of them are listed below,

1. Rufous potoo

2. Gray potoo

3. Great potoo

Physical Description of Potoo

The potoo birds have quite distinctive features from other members of their family and order. The interesting potoo bird facts regarding their morphology include their poorly developed facial bristle, another interesting fact about that is the presence of the large head on a comparatively shorter body. The average size of the body of the bird, when compared with other members of the species, can be defined as the medium size of the body. The size of the potoo bird ranges from 8 to 23 inches that are roughly equal to 21 to 57 cm in length. The bodyweight of the bird also varies according to a different genus, the average weight of the body of these birds ranges from 46 grams to 264 grams, which is approximately equal to 1.6–22 oz. The bird has the characteristic features of long wings and tails but its legs are very short.

Overall the body structure of a potoo bird can be defined as the small body with a disproportionately large head that has bulgy eyes, the bill is wide, and has a huge gape. The feathers or wings of the bird are round in shape and are long, when the legs and feet of the aves are compared with the body, the feet are proportionately smaller. Another interesting potoo bird fact is the absence of comb-like serrations on the claw of the middle toe. This serration on the middle claw is the characteristic feature of other members of the order but is absent in only potoo birds, marking them as morphologically distinct birds.

The plumage of the bird is cryptically coloured, the generally found colour of plumage includes the following colours, grey, buff, rufous, or brown. The wings of some of the species are found with lighter patches, usually in white or light grey colour. But this generalization is not true for every potoo bird species as two of the largest species of potoo birds lack these patches on wings and have uniformly coloured wings. These species have streaked or closely barred patterns on the wings. 

Habitat and Distribution of Potoo Birds

The habitat of potoo birds is generally defined as a forest-based habitat, the birds are difficult to observe due to their very unique sleeping and waking patterns. The bird is generally seen as the forest birds, with different species characteristic of lowland or montane forests. The habitat of the bird can extend to open woodlands, plantations, or even groves of trees in savannas or partly deforested areas. Potoos are generally considered as sedentary bird species, that is they prefer living in a single niche for a long period of time, they only relocate their place under severe environmental or other stress. The most preferred habitat of potoo birds includes the humid forest, although they are also found in some drier forests, the species diversity is much higher in the humid forest as compared to the drier forest.

Potoo birds prefer to live a close distance from each other but it is highly unlikely of them to be found in the group. They are essentially solitary birds. An interesting fact about potoo birds is their way of nest building. Potoos do not involve building their nest, they are often seen living in the shallow depression. They are termed as restricted nesters due to their characteristic feature of living in small confined cervices, another important point to note here is that the cervix or the depression is only large enough to hold a single egg that the potoo birds lay.

The geographical distribution range of the Potoo birds includes the tropical areas of South America, most of the species diversity is found in this area. The overall range of Potoo extends e from the subtropical areas in Mexico, Hispaniola, and Jamaica south to southern Brazil and Uruguay. An important fact about the potoo distribution range is that the Amazon basins have the highest number of potoo bird species.

Diet 

Potoo like all the other members of the family Nyctibiidae are insectivorous birds, that is the main constituent of the bird’s diet is a small insect found in the first areas. The primary choice of an insect for the prey includes the following: beetles, moths, orthopterans, and termites. Apart from insects some larger species of potoo birds also like to predate bats and smaller birds. Such predator birds include species like Sporophila torqueola. Among the insects mentioned above, beetles constitute the largest part of their diet.

Feeding Ecology

Feeding ecology refers to the hunting techniques of the bird. Potoo birds are considered nocturnal birds, they are seen to awake at the dusk, the big bulgy eyes play an important role in the feeding or predating technique of the bird. It is the presence of those big eyes that potoo birds are able to see even small insects at night. They prey on insects by sallying flights from exposed perches such as tree stumps, branches, or fence posts. 

Their typical foraging technique is to perch on a branch and occasionally fly out in the manner of a flycatcher in order to snatch a passing insect. It is interesting to note that they do not predate or take insects from the ground, the prey is captured mainly in the air, less often taken from vegetation, but never from the ground. Potoos are known to have wide and gaping mouths for catching prey during their quick, short, and silent flights.

Behaviour

It is clear that potoo is considered a nocturnal bird that predates and awakes in the dusk. Does an interesting question arise about the behaviour of the bird during the day? The potoo bird generally sleeps during the day. The cryptically coloured body plays an important role during the daytime. Ptoos lay motionless on a branch or tree stump, where their immobility and cryptic colouration render them almost invisible. Thus it can be concluded that the plumage and other morphologically important features of the body are adapted according to the evolution necessary for the lifestyle of the bird. 

These birds when distributed or scattered in areas with a high risk of predation, potoo reinforces the camouflage. The mechanism for doing this involves flattening their plumage and adopting an erect concealment posture, this allows the outlines of the body to merge with the snag on a branch or the top of a stump.

Another important potoo bird fact is the presence of magic eyes. The anatomical eyes are wide and brightly coloured that would lead to catching the attention of the predator. The eyelids conceal the eyes but the presence of two small notches on the eyelids, known as magic eyes, allows vision without spoiling the bird's camouflage by opening the large shiny eyes.

Another characteristic behaviour common to all the species of potoo bird is the specific sound produced by the bird during the night. These sounds are the most prominent sound that is present during the night in the tropical forest. These songs are different in each species and vary from a long whistled glissando in the white-winged potoo (Nyctibius leucopterus) to loud guttural snoring in the great potoo. The songs are believed to be a technique of marking their territory and asserting dominance over other members of the species.

Reproduction

Potoo like all the birds is classified as an oviparous bird, it refers to the animals that lay eggs. The eggs of the bird are white in colour, with brown and grey stripes. They have a chalky appearance. Both male and female members of the species take care of the egg. The eggs are under parental incubation for 30 to 35 days. By the time nestlings have most of their early-down replaced by juvenile feathers, they are no longer brooded by a parent and they also freeze if disturbed. 

Potoo is considered monogamous birds, that is they mate with only a single parent. The interesting fact about potoo birds is that they lay eggs in depressions rather than building their own nest. There is not enough data to provide exact information about parental care and the mating system.

Significance to Humans

Potoo birds have very low commercial importance for humans. However, they are associated with folklore and superstitions. In Brazil, the sound of the potoo birds during the night is associated with bad luck or impending death. There is various folklore that mentions the birds.

Conclusion

Potoo birds are nocturnal birds that are mostly found in the American tropical and subtropical areas. They belong to the family called Nyctibiidae, they are further classified into the genus called Nyctibius. There are seven species that are classified under this genus, examples of some of the species include, Rufous potoo, Gray potoo, Great potoo. The potoo bird is an insectivorous bird that feeds mainly on beetles. The morphological marker of these birds includes wide big eyes, poorly developed bristles, they are also characterized by disproportionately large heads compared to the body. There is little to no commercial importance of the bird, but they are associated with many folklores of Brazil.