Potoo birds are nocturnal creatures known for their extraordinary camouflage, which makes them resemble broken tree branches during the day. Found throughout the neotropics in Central and South America, they are sometimes referred to as “poor-me-ones” due to their haunting cry. Potoos are strictly insectivorous, meaning their entire diet is composed of insects, which they procure using a specialized hunting technique adapted to their nocturnal existence.
Primary Prey Categories
The Potoo bird’s diet is heavily focused on large, flying arthropods, which they swallow whole due to their disproportionately large mouths, or gapes. Primary food sources include large moths and beetles, which constitute the largest portion of their meals. Other common prey items are orthopterans, such as crickets and grasshoppers, and termites.
Potoos target the largest flying insects available, ensuring a substantial energy return for their hunting efforts. While their diet is insect-based, the largest species, like the Great Potoo, have occasionally been documented taking small vertebrates. These rare meals can include small bats or smaller birds, which are captured in mid-air.
Specialized Hunting Strategy
Potoos utilize the “sit-and-wait” or “perch-and-pounce” hunting technique, which is energy-efficient. They select an exposed perch, such as a dead snag or high branch, and remain motionless while scanning the dark sky for flying prey. This stillness is broken only by the movement of their large eyes, which are adapted for exceptional low-light vision.
Once a target is spotted, the Potoo launches into a rapid, short flight, known as an aerial sally or hawking. They use their wide, gaping mouth to scoop the insect out of the air with precision. The bird then returns immediately to its original perch to consume the captured meal. This aerial ambush technique leverages their silent flight to maximize their success rate against nocturnal insects.
Nocturnal Foraging Environment
Potoo hunting is exclusively nocturnal, a timing advantage that allows them to avoid competition with most diurnal insectivores. Their night activity capitalizes on the emergence of large, slow-flying insects like moths and scarab beetles, which are easier to capture. This nocturnal lifestyle is supported by their specialized vision, which detects the silhouettes of prey against the night sky.
Potoos strategically choose hunting locations that offer excellent visibility and an elevated position for launching aerial attacks. They often forage from exposed perches along forest edges, clearings, or open woodlands, sometimes moving to lower branches as close as 1.5 meters above the ground. During the day, their rigid, upright posture and bark-like plumage help them blend into their chosen perches, ensuring they remain undetected until dusk.