Potoos

Potoos, related to nightjars and frogmouths, are known for their haunting calls and are found in tropical Central and South America with fossil records indicating they were once in Europe too. These seven species of nocturnal and cryptically plumaged birds hunt flying insects from perches, resembling tree stumps during the day for camouflage. Potoos lay a single spotted egg directly on stumps, and both parents share duties in incubating and raising chicks without constructing a nest. Interestingly, genetic studies reveal considerable divergence among potoo species, hinting at the possibility of undiscovered cryptic species. Descriptions from literature note their extraordinary appearance—a large head with massive eyes and a broad bill devoid of rictal bristles unlike their relatives, the nightjars. They have a strong Neotropical distribution and are mainly sedentary unless occasionally seen as vagrants. Potoos are monogamous, and their unusual behavior for egg laying and chick-raising is heavily reliant on their exceptional camouflage. Their call has even found its way into pop culture, being featured in the film "Raiders of the Lost Ark."