The rufous potoo is a species of bird in the family Nyctibiidae. It is the only member of the genus Phyllaemulor. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Suriname Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.
Region
Amazon Basin and the Guianas
Typical Environment
Found in lowland tropical rainforests of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and the Guianas. It occupies primary terra firme forest as well as seasonally flooded várzea and igapó, and can use edges and light gaps. Birds typically perch low in the understory or midstory, often over trails or streams. It favors shaded, densely vegetated areas where its leaf-like camouflage is most effective.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The rufous potoo is the smallest potoo and the only member of its genus, Phyllaemulor. It is renowned for extraordinary dead-leaf mimicry, even swaying gently to enhance the illusion while roosting. Large pale patches on the wings and shoulders create the appearance of holes in a decaying leaf when seen in dappled light. It is a secretive nocturnal insect-hunter of Amazonian forests.
Rufous potoo on its nest
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short, silent sallies with buoyant, fluttering flight
Social Behavior
Usually roosts singly and hunts from low to mid-level perches. Pairs maintain territories and are most active at night. Like other potoos, it lays a single egg on a natural depression atop a stump or broken branch, with both parents sharing incubation and care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, clear series of whistles with a plaintive, slightly descending quality, often spaced at regular intervals. Vocalizations are given mostly at night and can carry through dense forest understory.
