---
title: "Common Potoo"
description: "Nyctibius griseus — Uccelli. The common potoo (Nyctibius griseus), also known as the kakuy or urutaú, is one of seven species of birds within the genus Nyctibius."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/it/animal/common-potoo
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Common Potoo

> Nyctibius griseus — Uccelli. The common potoo (Nyctibius griseus), also known as the kakuy or urutaú, is one of seven species of birds within the genus Nyctibius.

- Scientific name: *Nyctibius griseus*
- Category: `birds` (Uccelli)
- Habitats: `forest` (Foresta), `jungle` (Giungla)
- iNaturalist observations: 5280
- Wikidata: [Q1258935](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1258935)
- iNaturalist taxon: [19667](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/19667)

## Names

- en: Common Potoo
- de: Urutautagschläfer
- es: Bienparado norteño
- fr: Ibijau gris
- nl: Grijze reuzennachtzwaluw
- pt: Urutau-comum
- pl: Nocolot szary

## Countries with the most observations

BR (1762), CO (750), CR (650), EC (615), AR (320), PA (261), PE (114), GF (91), TT (80), BO (72), PY (40), UY (36)

## Summary

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.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_potoo

## Photo

![Common Potoo](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/common-potoo/medium.jpg)

Photo: Scott Loarie · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/63239

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/common-potoo?lang=it` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).