Greater potoos have impressive eyes located on the sides of their heads, giving them excellent night vision. (Image credit: Allissondias, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Name: Greater Potoo (Nyctibius grandis)
Habitat: Central and South America.
What it eats: large insects, bats and small birds.
Why it's impressive: The Greater Potoo is a master of disguise. Its mottled grey-brown plumage and ability to remain perfectly still often make it look like a tree branch or stump, helping it avoid the attention of predators.
This nocturnal bird, found in the forests and tropical lowlands of Central and South America, can reach 24 inches (60 centimeters) in height and have a wingspan of more than 28 inches (70 cm). Its gray, brown, and white plumage helps it blend in with the bark of the trees it perches on, making it virtually invisible to other animals.
During the day, Greater Potoos are quiet and motionless in the trees. However, at night, they become active hunters. Their large, owl-like eyes, which protrude from the sides of their heads, give them excellent vision in low-light conditions. With their large, flattened bill and mouth, these birds are ideally suited to catching prey such as flying insects and bats in mid-air.
Greater potoos also have slits in their eyelids that allow them to see even with their eyes closed. These “notches” help the birds sense light and movement through their closed eyelids, allowing them to detect predators and prey even while resting.
Greater potoos are also notable for their distinctive calls. Throughout the night, they emit a loud, groaning growl. This mysterious sound has made the bird a mythical figure in local folklore, and some communities in South America believe that these sounds are children calling for lost parents. These calls serve to communicate and protect their territories.
Potoos are monogamous birds, forming lifelong pairs that share incubation and care of the young. Female greater potoos lay a single egg in a natural depression in a tree branch, so they rely on their camouflage and vision to protect themselves and their young.
The incubation period for Greater Potoo eggs is around 30 days, with both parents involved in the incubation. Due to their secluded existence, little is known about their lifespan, but it is thought that they live for around 12-14 years, similar to other bird species.
TOPICS amazing animals
Lydia SmithSocial Link NavigationScience Writer
Lydia Smith is a health and science journalist working for publications in the UK and US. She holds an MA in Psychology from the University of Glasgow and an MA in English Literature from King's College London.
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