Fun Long-tailed Potoo Facts For Kids

There are seven different species of potoo birds in the world namely, great potoo, common potoo, northern potoo, white-winged potoo, rufous potoo, Andean potoo, and long-tailed potoo, Nyctibius aethereus. The long-tailed potoo is a unique bird, rarely seen near human settlements and named primarily owing to its long tail. They belong to the family Nyctibiidae.

Long-tailed potoos, Nyctibius aethereus, are primarily carnivorous birds and feed on insects of different kinds. They live in lowland forests on a tree branch and are indigenous to Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Paraguay, and Argentina.

These birds have a small beak and a relatively wide face and two big eyes and long tails. This article will analyze some fun and interesting facts related to the long-tailed potoo, Nyctibius aethereus.

For more relatable content, check out these hummingbird and bee-eater articles as well. 
 

Long-Tailed Potoo Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a long-tailed potoo?

The long-tailed potoo, Nyctibius aethereus, is a type of bird that belongs to kingdom Animalia and order Caprimulgiformes and family Nyctibiidae and genus Nyctibius.

What class of animal does a long-tailed potoo belong to?

The long-tailed potoo, Nyctibius aethereus, is a bird that belongs to Aves class of species, family Nyctibiidae and genus Nyctibius.

How many long-tailed potoos are there in the world?

The long-tailed potoo's, Nyctibius aethereus, exact population size is not evaluated. Their population range, however, has been estimated to be in decline in recent years, primarily due to habitat loss and other related factors. Other common and similar species include the great potoo and common potoo.

Where does a long-tailed potoo live?

Long-tailed potoos live in the woods on tree branches. Their distribution is more or less equal and they reside in tropical rainforest range and other similar environments in places including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador Venezuela, Peru, Paraguay, and Argentina in neotropical south America.

What is a long-tailed potoo's habitat?

A long-tailed potoo's habitat range constitutes lowland forests, islands, and forest edges on a branch. It lives in elevations of 1640.4 ft (500 m) and above sea level in the Atlantic forests in neotropical regions of South America. They are nocturnal beings and rarely seen out in the open during daytime and active at night.

Who do long-tailed potoos live with?

These species active at night are mostly solitary beings however since they are innately wild birds it's likely that you will see them with other species in the wild as well.

How long does a long-tailed potoo live?

The long-tailed potoo's exact lifespan is not recorded however its estimated to live about 12-14 years.

How do they reproduce?

Breeding season begins in August and ends in November. Males and females mate and give birth to offspring who are kept in a nest. They don't build a nest in a tree and rather lay a single egg post-mating in tree crevices or depressions once the breeding period is over.

The same nesting site is used multiple times throughout their lifetime. Both parents raise and feed the young. The incubation period may last up to one month.

What is their conservation status?

The long-tailed potoo is classified as of Least Concern species by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature (IUCN).

Long-Tailed Potoo Fun Facts

What do long-tailed potoos look like?

At first instance, it's easy to confuse a potoo's features to being similar to that of an owl, however, they are different species. Long-tailed potoos have brown plumage with blackish spotted, streaked upper parts and underparts.

Their underparts tend to paler as compared to the upper parts of their body. They have a short bill and their legs and feet are brownish. Male and female resemble each other hence it's difficult to identify differences between the two.

Their overall color helps them camouflage easily in the woods. Their distinguishing feature is their tail and they have two small dark-colored eyes. They are mostly active during the night.

They live in lowland forests and are indigenous to Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, and Argentina. They are mostly shy in behavior hence they are seldom seen.

How cute are they?

The long-tailed potoo cannot be considered cute however, they are surely shy in behavior being and seldom seen near human settlements it's rare to spot them. Owing to their shy behavior they are seldom seen.

How do they communicate?

The long-tailed potoo's call is plainly a 'waa-OO-uh' which is repeatedly uttered in intervals. The song is usually heard at night which begins with a series of 'ow-ow-aow-aow-rahool'. Before landing too they give a sound.

They are also known for their signature sound i.e. the 'potoo' sounds.

Their calls are distinct and unique however, songs are more prominent in these species and not calls. Their sounds are specific to a particular behavior. If you hear sounds of one species its likely to find more in the same space since they communicate to other species their own kind.

How big is a long-tailed potoo?

The long-tailed potoo is 18.11- 22.04 in (46-56 cm) length, which is three times bigger than the fox sparrow which is just 5.9-7.5 in (14-19 cm).

How fast can a long-tailed potoo fly?

Long-tailed potoos fly at relatively moderate speeds however, they are rarely seen flying during the day. They sit on branches with their eyes half-closed during the daytime.

How much does a long-tailed potoo weigh?

Long-tailed potoos weigh 0.61- 0.98 lb (280-447 g). The great potoo is the largest species in the potoo family.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Males and females are not addressed differently and look similar in appearance. However, they differ in reproductive functions.

What would you call a baby long-tailed potoo?

Baby long-tailed potoos can be referred to as juveniles or nestlings. The juvenile is rarely seen and little information is known about its appearance.

What do they eat?

These birds are primarily carnivores and feed on insects, in rare instances, they are known to feed on grasshoppers as well as moths to fulfil their diet requirements. These birds are noctural and hunt mostly at night to find appropriate diet to feed on.

Are they poisonous?

Long tailed potoo birds of the world are not poisonous or dangerous. They are, however, prey to monkeys and larger birds. These birds are also impacted majorly due to loss of habitat which leads to death in extreme cases.

Would they make a good pet?

No, these bird species are innately wild birds hence it best to observe them in their natural habitat although it's rare to see these species since they prefer not to appear near human settlements.

Did you know...

Some species of birds catch each other's yawns. This is similar to humans where yawn is considered to be contagious. Budgies are the first species are the first non-mammal species to exhibit such a behavior.

Cardinal birds are often considered to a representative of a loved one who passed away. In various cultures, they believe that if cardinals visit you it's a loved one visiting you when you need or miss them most since they are rarely seen.

In Ancient Egypt, pigeons were responsible for delivering the results of the Olympic games as well as other military information. They were also used in World War II to do the same.  

What are potoos known for?

Potoos birds are known primarily for the 'po-too' sound they make after which they were named. These birds have extremely unique features although it's easy to confuse them with owl species. They are also addressed as poor-me-ones owing to their nightime calls. This bird can also sense movement even if their eyes are closed.

How did the long-tailed potoo get its name?

During the nineteenth century species like the long tailed potoo bird was referred to as nighthawks but later this changed to potoo. Potoos are known primarily for the 'po-too' sound they make after which they were named.

Long tailed potoo have long tails as well as compared to other potoo species setting them apart. They live in lowland forests and are indigenous to Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, and Argentina. Other potoo bird species include the great potoo, northern poto, common potoo, among others.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds with our palm warbler facts and western-kingbird facts.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Common potoo coloring pages.