Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Czech | potu velký |
Dutch | Vale Reuzennachtzwaluw |
English | Great Potoo |
English (United States) | Great Potoo |
French | Grand Ibijau |
French (France) | Grand Ibijau |
German | Riesentagschläfer |
Japanese | オオタチヨタカ |
Norwegian | storpotu |
Polish | nocolot wielki |
Portuguese (Brazil) | urutau-grande |
Portuguese (Portugal) | Mãe-da-lua-gigante |
Russian | Исполинский уратао |
Serbian | Veliki potu |
Slovak | lelkovec veľký |
Spanish | Nictibio Grande |
Spanish (Costa Rica) | Nictibio Grande |
Spanish (Ecuador) | Nictibio (Puntepalo) Grande |
Spanish (Honduras) | Pájaro Estaca Mayor |
Spanish (Mexico) | Pájaro Estaca Mayor |
Spanish (Panama) | Nictibio Grande |
Spanish (Paraguay) | Urutaú grande |
Spanish (Peru) | Nictibio Grande |
Spanish (Spain) | Nictibio grande |
Spanish (Venezuela) | Nictibio Grande |
Swedish | större poto |
Turkish | Büyük Putu |
Ukrainian | Поту великий |
Great Potoo Nyctibius grandis
Version: 1.0 — Published January 28, 2011
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Behavior
Introduction
This species of bird roosts during the day in very tall trees in tropical forests and is well hidden by its cryptic coloring (Wetmore 1968). The bird usually faces the upward slope of a medium-sized branch with its eyes slitted and head feathers erect such that it looks like a broken off stub. It limits its movement to subtle turns of its head side to side. However, when alarmed, the potoo quickly stretches and raise sits head until it is vertical, closes its eyes completely and compresses its head feathers such that it resembles part of the branch even more (Perry 1979).
Territoriality
It is unclear if there are defined territories, but since this species is nonmigratory, there is a good chance that individuals maintain loose territories consisting of their favorite perches (Cohn-Haft 1999).
Sexual Behavior
The sexes of potoos are indistinguishable in the field, thus there is little information available (Vanderwerf 1988).
Social and interspecific behavior
Mostly solitary.
Predation
No information.