Potoo bird is one of the most interesting birds that you could have ever known. No doubt that Potoo is the master of camouflage. They mostly live in the forests of Central and South America. And they take attention with their large mouth and bulging yellow eyes, if you are good enough to realize them with sharp eyes…
Potoo is the master of camouflage
Photo: The Lilac Breasted Roller
It’s so hard to distinguish them from a tree
Potoo birds spend their day resting beneath the rainforest canopy pretending to be trees. They are nocturnal, so to avoid detection during the daytime, they perch motionless on dead or dying trees. What makes them nearly impossible to spot is their color pattern which helps them appear like extensions of branches.
Photo: Alejandro Bayer
Potoo bird is also known for its haunting calls
Some liken it to the roar of a tiger, the croak of a frog, or the gruff, wrenching scream of a human. Or a combination of all these voices.
They are more than just proficient tree-mimics or eerie forest-haunters. They have oversized yellow eyeballs that are perfect for spotting tasty insects, which make up the bulk of the birds’ diet.
Photo: Reinaldo Aguilar
Those big yellow eyes remain closed when they are in stealth mode, but then at night… They bulge out and give the animals a perpetually surprised look
Photo: Carlos Gussoni
Source
Photo: In Memoriam: Ecuador Megadiverso
