BirdNote Daily Common Potoo: Branch or Bird?
Dec 3, 2025
Deja Perkins, an ecologist and conservation advocate, joins to discuss the elusive Common Potoo. These remarkable birds excel at camouflage, blending seamlessly into their surroundings while perched. Their haunting dawn and dusk calls have earned them the nickname 'Poor-me-one' in Trinidad and Tobago. The conversation highlights their nocturnal hunting habits, which involve catching insects in mid-air. Perkins also teases exciting topics for the upcoming Bring Birds Back mini-series, promising more birding adventures ahead!
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Masters Of Invisible Perching
- Common Potoos use extreme daytime camouflage, perching like a broken branch with eyes nearly closed to avoid predators.
- Their cryptic coloration and posture make them far more often heard than seen in rainforests.
Nocturnal Songsters With A Nickname
- Common Potoos are primarily nocturnal and sing a mournful, melodious song at dawn, dusk, and by moonlight.
- Their vocalizations led to the local name 'Poor-me-one' in Trinidad and Tobago.
Nighttime Hunters, Daytime Hiders
- At dusk common potoos become active hunters, using large eyes and wide mouths to sally for flying insects.
- They return to their camouflaged perches at dawn to hide in plain sight for the day.