Nyctibius leucopterus

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Cladus: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Superordo: Caprimulgimorphae
Ordo: Nyctibiiformes

Familia: Nyctibiidae
Genus: Nyctibius
Species: Nyctibius leucopterus
Name

Nyctibius leucopterus (Wied-Neuwied, 1821)
Synonyms

Caprimulgus leucopterus (protonym)

References

Wied-Neuwied, M. zu 1820-1821. Reise nach Brasilien in den Jahren; 1815 bis 1817. Frankfurt a.M. H.L. Brönne. Vol.1 BHL. 1820: vi + 376 pp. + 1 (unnumbered), 1 map. Vol.2 BHL. 1821: xviii + 345 pp. + 1 (unnumbered), 16 plates, 1 map. DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.85967Reference page. p. 227

Vernacular names
čeština: Potu bělokřídlý
English: White-winged Potoo
español: Nictibio aliblanco
français: Ibijau à ailes blanches
português: Urutau-de-asa-branca
中文: 白翅林鴟

The white-winged potoo (Nyctibius leucopterus) is a species of bird in the family Nyctibiidae. It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.[2][3]
Taxonomy and systematics

For a time the Andean potoo (Nyctibius maculosus) was considered a subspecies of the white-winged potoo, but size, plumage, voice, and elevational distribution differentiate them. Those two species, the northern potoo (N. jamaicensis), and the common potoo (N. griseus) are more closely related to each other than to the other potoos. The white-winged potoo is (as of 2021) considered to be monotypic, but the Amazonian form might be a species in its own right.[4][5]
Description

The white-winged potoo has two forms that differ significantly in size but are almost identical otherwise. The species as a whole is 24 to 29 cm (9.4 to 11.4 in) long. The Amazonian form weighs 77 to 85 g (2.7 to 3.0 oz); it is much smaller than the eastern one though the latter's weight has not been documented. Both forms are dark brown above and lighter brown below, and both parts have darker speckles. The large white patch on the secondary wing coverts give the species its name.[5]
Distribution and habitat

The Amazonian form of white-winged potoo is known from scattered sites in the Amazon basin of Eastern Venezuela, eastern Peru, the Guianas, and northern Brazil, though it probably occurs throughout the region. There it inhabits the canopy of mature terra firme rainforest, including forest on white-sand soils. In the early 2000s researchers made several sightings along the Amazon on poor but non-sandy soils between areas of white-sand forest.[5][6] The eastern form has a much smaller range in Brazil's Bahia and Espírito Santo states. It is not well known but is assumed to inhabit the canopy of the Atlantic Forest.[5]
Behavior
Feeding

The white-winged potoo is nocturnal. It captures its insect prey by sallying from an exposed perch.[5]
Breeding

The white-winged potoo's breeding phenology is unknown. It is assumed to lay one egg on a branch high in the canopy in a manner similar to that of other potoos.[5]

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

Songs and calls
Listen to white-winged potoo on xeno-canto
Vocalization

The song of the Amazonian form of white-winged potoo is "a gradually descending, pure-toned 'feeeoooooo'" described as haunting and melancholy. It also makes a soft "bweep" call.[5]
Status

The IUCN has assessed the white-winged potoo as being of Least Concern, though its population is unknown and thought to be decreasing.[1] In Amazonia, "the biggest threat comes from continued destruction of pristine forest."[5]
References

BirdLife International (2016). "White-winged Potoo Nyctibius leucopterus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (July 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.2)". Retrieved July 14, 2021.
Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 24 August 2021. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved August 24, 2021
Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 24 August 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved August 24, 2021
Cohn-Haft, M. (2020). White-winged Potoo (Nyctibius leucopterus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.whwpot1.01 retrieved October 18, 2021
Jacob B. Socolar; et al. (2018). "Noteworthy bird records from northeastern Peru reveal connectivity and isolation in the western Amazonian avifauna". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 130 (1): 94–111.