Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Czech | potu obecný |
Dutch | Grijze Reuzennachtzwaluw |
English | Common Potoo |
English (United States) | Common Potoo |
French | Ibijau gris |
French (France) | Ibijau gris |
German | Klagetagschläfer |
Japanese | ハイイロタチヨタカ |
Norwegian | fløytepotu |
Polish | nocolot szary |
Portuguese (Brazil) | urutau |
Portuguese (Portugal) | Mãe-da-lua |
Russian | Серый уратао |
Serbian | Obični potu |
Slovak | lelkovec urutau |
Slovenian | Flavtasti zaspanec |
Spanish | Nictibio Urutaú |
Spanish (Argentina) | Urutaú |
Spanish (Chile) | Urutaú |
Spanish (Costa Rica) | Nictibio Común |
Spanish (Ecuador) | Nictibio (Puntepalo) Común |
Spanish (Panama) | Nictibio Común |
Spanish (Paraguay) | Urutaú común |
Spanish (Peru) | Nictibio Común |
Spanish (Spain) | Nictibio urutaú |
Spanish (Uruguay) | Urutaú |
Spanish (Venezuela) | Nictibio Grisáceo |
Swedish | grå poto |
Turkish | Urutau Putusu |
Ukrainian | Поту малий |
Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus
Version: 1.0 — Published October 9, 2015
Account navigation Account navigation
Sounds and Vocal Behavior
Vocalizations
Common Potoo vocalizes chiefly at night, most especially on moonlit nights. The song of Common Potoo is described by many as one of the most hauntingly beautiful sounds of the American tropics. This song consists of up to 8 melancholy and wailing or lamenting descending notes, which start loud and gradually drop in pitch in sliding steps as it fades in volume. This song is transcribed as BU-OH, BU-ou, bu-ou, bu-oo, bu-aw…. (Hilty 2013) or as Waaoo, woo-woo-wooh-wuuh (Lane, in Schulenberg et al. 2013).
For a representative audio recording with sonogram, see audio
Nestlings may give a hoarse buzzing call when fed by an adult (Skutch 1970).
Additional audio recordings of vocalizations of Common Potoo can be heard at Macaulay Library, at xeno-canto, and at Internet Bird Collection.
Nonvocal Sounds
Common Potoos may snap the beak audibly when threatened (Skutch 1983).