North American potoo

The **North American potoo** (*Nyctibius giganteus*) is a species of near passerine bird of the potoo family that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The North American potoo is one of the largest potoo species and among the largest member of the order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies), reaching between 480 mm to 600 mm (18.90 to 23.62 inches) in length, with the wingspan ranging between 700 mm to 804 mm (27.56 in to 31.65 inches), and weighing around 360 grams to 650 grams (12.69 to 22.91 oz). The North American potoo has a large head in relation to its body. The eyes are also very large with a brown to yellow iris and has a short but broad beak. Their wings are elliptical in shape and the tail is elongated. The feather colors vary with white, gray, black, and burgundy. The tail colors match with that of the rest of the body with the exception of white bars that can be seen going across the tail laterally. The North American potoo's prey consists mostly of large flying insects, especially large beetles, katydids and Orthoptera (including crickets and grasshoppers). Bats and birds are taken occasionally as well. The North American potoo takes advantage of the night and its natural camouflage by sitting on an exposed perch to wait until some prey flies by, at which point it darts out towards the prey and returns to the branch with it. Very often birds of this species will use the same hunting perch nightly. This nocturnal predator is usually seen perched high above the ground while foraging, hawking when prey is spotted. After the pounce, the potoo almost always returns to its previous perch. Normally, during the day it perches upright on a tree stump, and is overlooked because it resembles part of the stump; this is a camouflage, not just by coloration, but a camouflage by the setting. The North American potoo can be located at night by the reflection of light from its eyes as it sits vertical on a post, roost, or angled-tree trunk, or by its haunting melancholic song, a BO-OU, BO-ou, bo-ou, bo-ou, bo-ou, bo-ou, bo-ou, bo-ou dropping in both pitch and volume, which is almost identical to the songs made by South American common potoos (*Nyctibius griseus*). When seized, this bird produces a squeaky sound not unlike that of a crow. North American potoos are shy and solitary animals. Breeding has been recorded as typically February to August, but depending on the portion of this bird's range breeding birds can be met with almost year-round. The nest is a slight depression on a thick tree branch, at least 10 m (33 ft) above ground, with one or two white (slightly spotted) eggs measuring about 5.2 x 3.8 cm (2 x 1.8 inches). The chicks of a few days old weighed 220 grams (7.8 oz). After about 5 weeks the nestlings are two-thirds version of the adult, but with a lighter build, paler plumage, shorter tail, and smaller bill with less rictal bristles. The fledgings period must be at least 2 months. After this time span, the offsprings do not return to the nest site. The conservation status of the North American potoo is **Least Concern** due to successful conservation efforts, the North American potoo's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.