The nocturnal Neotropical bird with a wide mouth and dead-leaf-mimicking plumage is the potoo.
Potoos are a family of insect-eating birds found across tropical Central and South America. They hunt from exposed perches, launching short flights to catch beetles, moths, grasshoppers, and termites in mid-air. Their unusually broad bills and enormous mouths help them seize flying prey.
By daylight, potoos rely on cryptic plumage and an upright posture to resemble a broken branch or tree stump. Their camouflage is so effective that they may remain unnoticed even when sitting in plain view. Narrow slits in their eyelids also let them detect movement while keeping their eyes mostly closed.
Potoos are often confused with nightjars and frogmouths because all are nocturnal birds with muted plumage. However, potoos belong to their own family, Nyctibiidae, and lack the prominent mouth bristles typical of true nightjars. They are also known for haunting, descending calls sometimes described as “poor-me-one” songs.