Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis) is found on islands in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean. This is also found from Mexico south to Costa Rica. This 15 inch potoo is almost identical to the common potoo in appearance. The breast is pale with pale brown vertical dashes. The dorsal wings are mottled brown.

There are 5 subspecies. This species was discovered in Jamaica in 1789 and named by Gmelin, and thus the nominate subspecies Nyctibius jamaicensis jamaicensis is found in Jamaica. The subspecies abbotti is found on Hispaniola and nearby islands.

The subspecies lambi is found in west central Mexico. The subspecies mexicanus is found in east and southern Mexico south to Honduras. The subspecies costaricensis is found in northwestern Costa Rica.

This lifeform is uncommon in the limited area of Costa Rica where it is found.

The potoo family (Nyctibiidae) is found from Central America and the Caribbean south through much of South America. (Nyctibius jamaicensis appears to have be introduced into Indonesia.) There are 7 species all in the genus Nyctibius.

Nightjars and Goatsuckers (Order Caprimulgiformes) are an order of about 120 species of birds that are found worldwide. Included in this order are the families of Oilbirds, Frogmouths, Potoos, Owlet-Nightjars, and Nightjars. Clements counts 28 species in three smaller families and 91 species in the nightjar family.

Aves contains about 8,650 different species of living birds known to science. Each year about one new species is discovered in some remote rain forest or remote island. In addition, scientists have been raising many subspecies to full species status which may raise the species count to 10,000. Birdlife recognizes 10,027 species as of 2011.

However, each year about one species goes extinct. The rate of extinction is increasing, and the rate of new discovery is decreasing, so that the number of bird species will soon begin to decline rapidly. Although different taxonomists would organize the birds differently, there are approximately twenty-seven orders of birds. These orders are broken down into about one hundred and fifty-five different families.

Recent research of the genetic structure of some of the shore birds and owls would indicate that the present organization of orders and families should have some modification.

The birds are a worldwide group of animals that are characterized by having the front limbs modified into wings that are used for flying. Perhaps the most unique feature of the birds is the feathers. These feathers are made up of a central support called a quill and a series of small filaments that are hooked together as barbs.

For many years it was believed that Archaeopteryx discovered in Bavaria was the oldest bird from about 150 million years ago. However, in l986, Sankar Chattterjee, a Texas paleontologist, reportedly discovered a bird in the genus Protoavis that lived about 225 million years ago.

When this project was begun in 1978, we used Austin & Singer for bird taxonomy. Since then, we have adopted many changes, but have kept some older concepts that are still found widely in the literature. Recently, we have used Clements and Howard & Moore. Very recently, we have used Monroe and Sibley for the higher taxonomy of the perching birds.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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