It took me a long time to spot this bird sitting high on a tree in the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica. Eventually I saw it – or at least its back. It’s a Potoo bird, possibly a Great Potoo, a nocturnal insect-eating bird known for its amazing daytime camouflage, earning it the name “ghost bird”. Potoos have large eyes with excellent night vision, and prey on larger insects like moths and beetles.
During the day as it sleeps it sits perfectly still, blending in well with the tree trunk. Potoo birds are native to Central and South America.
The following photos show clearer images of Potoo birds, and allow you a better look at them.
Nice shots and an interesting piece altogether. I had never heard of these birds. The camouflage is amazingly effective.
Thank you Professor! I’d never heard of them until we came across this bird — which I would had missed had our guide not pointed him out.