Silhouette: Dominic Sherony (photo) and Albertonykus (silhouette) · PhyloPic

Common Potoo

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Common Potoo in Iguazú National Park?

With luck. About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Potoo sighting in Iguazú National Park on a given day, based on 487 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 142nd most-seen of the 343 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Common Potoo in Iguazú National Park?

February and October. In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Potoo in Iguazú National Park on a given day, against under 5% in May to August, the lowest months.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Common Potoo?

Between 6 and 9 pm. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Potoo sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Q: Is Iguazú National Park the best place to see a Common Potoo?

8th of 39. Of the 39 parks where we can rate Common Potoo sightings, Iguazú National Park ranks 8th at about 10%. The best odds are in Caroni Swamp (Trinidad and Tobago, about 20%), Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Ecuador, about 20%) and Yasuní National Park (Ecuador, about 10%).

Q: Where does the Common Potoo sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Common Potoo is recorded against all the birds logged in Iguazú National Park (487 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Nyctibius griseus

Silhouette: Dominic Sherony (photo) and Albertonykus (silhouette) · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

at Iguazú National Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

487 Verified sightings at Iguazú National Park From 2019 to 2026

4,191 In all 39 parks

October Best month

🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted

Challenge Rainforest Night Walk Central AmericaHard

About the Common Potoo

The common potoo (Nyctibius griseus), also known as the kakuy or urutaú, is one of seven species of birds within the genus Nyctibius. It is notable for its large, yellow eyes and a wide mouth. Potoos are nocturnal and are related to nightjars and frogmouths. They lack the characteristic bristles around the mouths of true nightjars.

The common potoo was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with all the nightjar-like species in the genus Caprimulgus and coined the binomial name Caprimulgus griseus. Gmelin based his description on "L'engoulevent gris" from Cayenne that had been described from a preserved specimen in 1779 by the French polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon. The common potoo is now one of the seven potoos placed in the genus Nyctibius that was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot. The genus name is from the Ancient Greek nuktibios meaning "night-feeding", from nux night and bios "life". The specific epithet griseus is Medieval Latin meaning "grey".

The common potoo was formerly considered to be... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Song1:05

Suriname · 2026

Recording0:44

Colombia · 1997

Drumming0:51

Brazil · 2010

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 1 zoo or centre

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~20%
2	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~20%
3	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
4	Main Ridge Forest Reserve	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~10%
5	Emas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
6	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
7	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
8	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
9	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
10	Chapada Diamantina National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
11	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
12	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
13	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
14	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
15	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
16	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
17	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
18	Serra dos Órgãos National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
19	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
20	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
21	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
22	El Palmar National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
23	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
24	Chapada dos Guimarães National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
25	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
26	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
27	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
28	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
29	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
30	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
31	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
32	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
33	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
34	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
35	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
36	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
37	Tijuca National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
38	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
39	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Cali	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
2	Campo Grande	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
3	Buenos Aires	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
4	Fortaleza	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
5	Vitória	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
6	Panama City	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
7	Guayaquil	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
8	Goiânia	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
9	Asuncion	🇵🇾 Paraguay	<5%
10	São Paulo	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Parque das Aves	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity

Closest Relatives at Iguazú National Park

Nyctibius aethereus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Pitangus sulphuratus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Turdus leucomelas

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Coragyps atratus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Cyanocorax chrysops

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Troglodytes musculus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Cacicus haemorrhous

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Vanellus chilensis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Basileuterus culicivorus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Zenaida auriculata

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Ramphastos toco

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Furnarius rufus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Potoo in Iguazú National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Potoo sighting in Iguazú National Park on a given day, based on 487 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 142nd most-seen of the 343 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Common Potoo in Iguazú National Park?

February and October

In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Potoo in Iguazú National Park on a given day, against under 5% in May to August, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Common Potoo?

Between 6 and 9 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Potoo sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Is Iguazú National Park the best place to see a Common Potoo?

8th of 39

Of the 39 parks where we can rate Common Potoo sightings, Iguazú National Park ranks 8th at about 10%. The best odds are in Caroni Swamp (Trinidad and Tobago, about 20%), Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Ecuador, about 20%) and Yasuní National Park (Ecuador, about 10%).

Where does the Common Potoo sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Common Potoo is recorded against all the birds logged in Iguazú National Park (487 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Iguazú National Park

Common Potoo

About the Common Potoo

Sounds

Recent sightings of Common Potoo in Iguazú National Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Iguazú National Park

Long-tailed Potoo

Great Kiskadee

Pale-breasted Thrush

Black Vulture

Plush-crested Jay

Southern House Wren

Red-rumped Cacique

Southern Lapwing

Golden-crowned Warbler

Eared Dove

Toco Toucan

Rufous Hornero

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Potoo in Iguazú National Park?

When is the best time to see a Common Potoo in Iguazú National Park?

What time of day is best to see a Common Potoo?

Is Iguazú National Park the best place to see a Common Potoo?

Where does the Common Potoo sighting chance come from?