Breeding

In the northern portion of the range, breeding is from January-July (but primarily April-July), whereas in southern Brazil breeding is reported from November and December (Holyoak 2001).

Common Potoo does not construct a nest, placing the egg directly on the substrate, which usually is a depression on a sloping branch 3-20 m above the ground, but occasionally may be a tree stump (Holyoak 2001). The clutch is one; the egg is white, with irregular red brown to brown flecks.

Both sexes incubate (Skutch 1970), although it is not known if there is a consistent diurnal division of labor; Goeldi (1896) and Sick (1997) report that it is the male that incubates during the day. The incubation period is 30-33 days (Wetmore 1968, Skutch 1970). Both sexes brood the nestling. During the first two weeks the nestling is brooded both during the day and at night; after 19 days, it is brooded only during the day, and brooding ceases when the nestling is ca 25 days old (Skutch 1970). Both parents feed the young through regurgitation, and the young bird begs for food by making a hoarse buzzing call. Fledging occurs at 40-47 days (Wetmore 1968, Skutch 1970).