During the day, potoos can be found perched in a tree in plain sight, relying on their excellent camouflage for protection: their mottled grey and brown plumage helps them blend in seamlessly to look like an extension of their perch.

How is a potoo adapted to the rainforest?

Potoos are blessed with mottled plumage in a range of brown, gray and whitish tones, perfectly adapted to enable them to remain totally camouflaged when at rest during daylight hours. ... Because of their excellent camouflage and nocturnal habits, potoos are usually heard rather than seen.

Why does the Potoo have big eyes?

The eyes are large, even larger than those of nightjars. As in many species of nocturnal birds, they reflect the light of flashlights. Their eyes, which could be conspicuous to potential predators during the day, have unusual slits in the lids, which allow potoos to sense movement even when their eyes are closed.