Animalia Life

Nyctibius bracteatus
TAXONOMY
Nyctibius bracteatus J. Gould, 1846, Colombia. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Colombian potoo; French: Ibijau roux; German: Tropfentagschlдfer; Spanish: Nictibio rufo.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
8.3–9.8 in (21–25 cm); 1.6–2.0 oz (46–58 g). Coloration is atypical for a potoo. Overall the bird is deep orange-rufous with large white spots bordered in black; long bristles spring from the loral area. Sexes similar.
DISTRIBUTION
South America from Colombia and Guyana south to eastern Peru and northern Brazil.
HABITAT
Lowland rainforests.
BEHAVIOR
A little-known, nocturnal bird of the forest understory and middle story.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Catches insects on sallying flights from a perch.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Only nest reported was on top of a broken palm stub inside forest, with a single blotched egg. Nestling was later tended by both parents and fledged before reaching adult size.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Probably not threatened overall, but undoubtedly declining due to forest destruction.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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