The world's most brazenly hidden bird -- the common potoo
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 มี.ค. 2013
- The incredible common potoo isn't much to look at -- so much so that you'll struggle to see it at all! In a bold display of camouflage and mimicry, this bird pretends to be a broken tree branch. To do so, it poses absolutely still, bravely evading predators in plain view of them. The potoo in this video is particularly fearless -- switch the quality up to HD and watch to find out why she's so determined not to be scared away from her perch.
Although you might not see them, the common potoo is, indeed, common in at least parts of its range. This rage extends from Nicaragua in Central America, south to Argentina. Six other species of potoo are known of, all generally similar in appearance and all performing the same posturing cryptic behaviour. Potoos have large eyes and a huge mouth -- features they share with the closely related nightjars.
As mentioned in the video, potoos squint their eyes in order to not expose their bright yellow irises and give the game away while keeping track of potential predators. Fortunately for them, potoos have an amazing, subtle adaptation -- slight notches in the eyelids, which are presumed to enable them to see even when their eyes are apparently closed.
Again like the nightjars, the eyes of the potoo are highly reflective to artificial light. Being incredibly cryptic, their eye-shine means that a night time stalk with a torch light is the best way to locate them.
If you've watched the video by now, then you'll know that this potoo has a young chick. Potoos lay just a single egg, and most commonly do so in the slight bowl of a tree branch or broken stump like the one in the video. Potoos form monogamous pairs, sharing responsibility for raising the young. Some evidence suggests that, during the day, egg incubation and chick protection duties are performed by the males of breeding pairs, with the females taking the night shift.
However, over a 36-hour period, there were no 'shift-changes' in this potoo family, making for one no-doubt exhausted parent who we have arbitrarily (males and females have similar colouring) designated as the female!
The Potoo is so good at hiding, autocorrect will turn it into “potato”.
The first time I saw this written I thought it was potato bird. I was like..that’s an ugly name for a cool bird
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 such wit!
Hahahaha
IF you had to take a Poo to, you would make yourself less conspicuous.
Potato - See also: Whoever programmed autocorrect
Imagine an another bird landing on its head while this one is sitting as a statue.
Only a pidgeon would lol
Banned from jungles
😂😂 Thinking it had landed on free tree trunk 🤣
@@oftin_wong lol
Damn it! I hate when comments actually make me laugh lol
@@sarahaymold8006 sometimes you find diamonds while digging through the coal
"It remains motionless when anxious."
I can relate, potoo bird, I can relate.
Mood
@@esk8jaimes 3 years ago....
I love how funny they look. It's like they're constantly extremely distressed by always accidentally walking into the bathroom and seeing someone naked.
That's the worst kind of distress.
Stupid
Finally Gordan went on a more nature job instead of all the stressful cooking
😂 why is that so specific?
The Opossums of the Bird Kingdom.
THE BABY TRYING TO POSE IS CUTE AS FK
I imagine it strives to be better and better at being invisible. "Hey Ma, did you see what I just did??" "No dear." "Gee, thanks Ma!."
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
😂😂😂
@Avicennite GH
I see what you did there.
Hilarious! 👏👏
@@AmarisNWonderland 😂
"Brazenly hidden?"
Is that like "bombastically silent?"
@@travisdonaldstanley6420 but there is camouflage. I did not see the bird at all.
Ridiculously important point
2:42 Are you fucking kidding me?
I love how this bird switches from stick to concerned and not-entirely-sober-muppet in moments
Today's date is July 13, 2021. I had never ever even heard about this bird.
Just heard about it too 😂
It’s been camouflaging from you till today, but not anymore 😤
Me too July 15, 2021 12:30 AM
Likewise.
July 17, 2021
1:32 AM
Still can't sleep after seeing this majestic birb
Imagine spending a life time pretending to not exist that must be really tiresome
Someone else that is just now seeing this amazing video! Just learned of the this freakishly amazing bird a mere 10 minutes ago!!! I’m stunned!!😳
Yeah, that’s what I’ve been doing my whole life
Tell me about it
Pretending? I'm a ghost nigga! Ghost, ghost, ghost. (How high for those who don't get the reference)
Give them the internet, they’d talk shit all day, and become the loudest majority
The little tiny beak was like . And then it's opens itS MOUTH AND ITS LIKE O
Its like a muppet
@@theerandomdude2375 🤣🤣
That's some type of new Pokémon.
Grass and flying type!
@@authoreyes101 Na, more like flying/shadow! Just listen to their birdcall. 4:05
I read that as "The world's most brazenly hidden bird, the common potato."
Like I can relate, bird. lol
The call is a whole-tone scale; musically very hip , even for a bird. How could anyone thumbs-DOWN this video?
Didn't know Gordon Ramsay was an ornitologist.
ornithologist*
Ikr
Ye same... He was really chill back in the day, doing nature programs, before the chef thing.
@@ericolens3 sounds like an inspirational quote that could be put over a stock image or some shit
This bird is RAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWW
I have never heard about this bird until today and yet TH-cam recommended me two videos of them for no reason out of nowhere.... Good job TH-cam🤔
@Tom Walsh I saw two scrolling through my recommended before I clicked on one😑 you don't have to be a smart ass, I know what an algorithm is
I've been getting heaps of them just in the last few days.
Turns out what he's looking at is really just a branch. :')
Drax: I mastered the art of being invisible!
Common Potoo: Hold my beer...
Even with the camera focused in on it, it took me a bit to actually see it. Amazing 💛
1:00 biggest yawn EVER XD
I thought the internet was making this up. I was wrong. I'm fucking done
L 013 lol me too. Had to research lol
Me 3 I had too check it out for myself!!
I'm glad I'm not the only who thought this was a hoax. They remind me of muppets, especially when they open their mouths!
Plot twist: This is just a voice over
Being wrong is the most fascinating part of the begining of learning something
I never understood people who bird watch until now. This is the most amazing bird ever! I can so relate to her.
Bruh
@@millpappan2768 brov
A lot of city birds are really funny to watch as well, especially when they are doing ridiculously human things like a crow walking over a zebra crossing while its buddy is looking at the proceedings and then taking the air path instead to meet up under a tree with the walking crow (what I saw happen in early july)
Birds are all amazing
It truly is amazing, I use to wonder the same thing and now I know why after taking a tour of the bird sanctuary in Trinidad
After a quick Google I found out Potoos are related to the Tawny Frogmouth we have here in Australia.
Yes, they are
Jonny Miller looks unremarkabley like a young Gordon Ramsay.
ok
He sounds like him too.
Lol "unremarkably"
more like young Bob Einstein.
Poor man
It's so good at hiding that almost nobody has heard of it lol
Absolutely beautiful and well realised documentary.
What a strange and fantastically beautiful creature. Thank you
desperately melancholy indeed !! it literally sounds like its going "boo hoo hoo hoo"
K M it sounds like an off-key recorder
It sounds like that but it also sounds like the beginning to Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry Be Happy" to me too. haha
Nature is so incredible with the way animals evolve to live in their surroundings
Master of disguise and master of derp... I so want one!! Best bird ever!
"master of derp" 😂😂😂
2:47 NO FUCKS GIVEN LMFAO
+Squirles G LOL I've been asking him to do a Potoo video. "Potoo in the rain..... No Fucks Givennn.."
potoo has no chill
I don't have any money, so that makes me "potoo"! I am just discovering this beautiful bird, today, July 15 2021! It is now my second favorite next to the owl! My third favorite is the Brazilian Bell Bird even though he always yells at his girl! LOL.
Yeah, there's some kind of potoo awakening going on. I only came across this species in July 2021. What could it mean...?
Lmao that was a good dad-joke. 👍🏻💯🔥
I find it amazing how wildlife babies come with all survival instincts built in. Humans have to be taught everything.
why is this little bird so cuddly - it's really so darn cute i can't stand it. looking at it straight on it looks walleyed and the first time i saw it, i thought it was the weirdest bird i'd ever seen. . . thanks for the video :}
Tawny frogmouth in Australia is kinda the same. You'll have trouble seeing them. But they're VERY cute when you do.
They are in the same family!
@@NathanChisholm041 I just looked this bird up and surprisingly despite the similarities they are in different families but the same order. The potoo is in the Nyctibiidae family and the frogmouth in the Podargidae family. The other similar birds to these are the night jars including the night hawks and poor wills in the Carprimulgidae family. All of these families and a couple more are in the same clade meaning they all have a common ancestor.
omg this bird is fucking hilarious!
Excellent video on an intriguing species. Thanks for sharing this with TH-cam!
I wanna be a Potoo when I grow up
I don’t know why TH-cam told me to watch this today, but at least it was educational 👍🏻
Seeing it in the rain broke my heart
Good.
You Were a snowflake.
Now you're a melting snowflake.
Toughen up, Buttercup ...
@@fjb4932 you realize the comment was made 6 years ago right?
Lol
@@chucknorris9667 it’s too late, Valerie turned into a puddle and has been evaporated and turned into rain thousands of times over already.
Bird feathers are coated with an oil that makes them waterproof. Mama bird is very comfortable. My chickens love the rain no matter how cold it might be, they never even try to get into the coop.
Thank-you for teaching me about this truly distinctive bird. They are wonderful!
The Potoo: "I've mastered the ability of standing so incredibly still, that I become invisible to the eye. ".
Thank you for making this video so straight forward and informative. The Potoo🐦, part of our world I just learned about.
I have found my spirit animal
Thats exactly what I thought today discovering this creature
And hindus are blamed by monotheistic c and I for thier spirit animals and gods
That is a great video. Aside from interesting, it was beautifully produced. Wow, can you imagine taking a science class from him. I'd go back to school for that.
Thank you so much. I love this, and find it very interesting. I'm so glad you don't overdo it with music and nonsensical audibles/visuals.
I love this bird. I’m fortunate to have seen it in Mexico several times. The song is so cool.
i think i've found my spirit animal
They are amazing! Though I can’t help but think of The Muppets… 😂
exactlyy!!!!
Best footage on this bird! Thank you.
its all fun and games until a bir mistakes you for a tree and lands on your head.
I thought she was using this strategy to catch and eat smaller birds this way
I really enjoy watching animal documentaries. Especially video footage of unusual creatures I've never seen before. Fascinating looking bird and thanks a bunch for sharing.
3:05 adorable
Wow this bird is so unique. I've never seen a bird like this. And those calls were beautiful too
What an amazing bird! And that song she sings
Bird standing in rain makes me sad 😩
Great video! I'm almost sixty years old and never knew this existed!
Such a devoted mother, I couldn’t be more proud
This is legitimately my favourite bird.
Thanks for doing this. It's great. Please save the planet.
Wow, this is so cool! Thanks Dr. Jonny Miller for sharing!
1.07mins it's whole face splits in half D:
Yeah, that's it's mouth. :p
quite an amazing looking 'bird' - reminds me of australia's tawny frogmouth, kind of similar, I think nightjar family
You and I sir need to seriously discuss your understanding of "COMMON"
Raik haha, "common potoo" is the name of this particular species of potoo :)
Exactly but WHY is it called that lmao
Hannah Bridges could be geographical. Or maybe other species are even more rare. I must admit I don't really know :)
@@pi-rma.4751 Common pottos actually are rather common; they're just really hard to find.
They say there rare that's cos no f***er can spot them there on every branch u c***s....shudda gone to a decent glasses place🤔🤔🤔🤔 what's it called again 😳😳
Stunning and scary at the same time
Thank you for the overview! The potoo is a fabulous bird, but by nature it gets little attention. It's nice to see good footage and get an explanation of their behavior.
Such a cool bird! loved your explanations. Amazing how you found the potoo at all. They look very similar to branches!! I read that the male tends to take the day shift, and then the male and female alternate throughout the night.
That piece of wood looks just like a birb.
Love these little guys. Did a commission art of one recently. Researching them was an absolute joy! Great video.
Beautiful scenic beauty and the amazing bird with good music, this is a treat to the eyes and soul .thank you so much.
What an amazing bird! I thought this was a spoof at first. Nature is truly wonderful.
That's a very musical moth. XD
Finally Gordan went on a more nature job instead of all the stressful cooking
Today I learned about Potoo birds. Thanks, Johnny Miller!
I will call you Drax since you've mastered the ability of standing so incredibly still that you become invisible to the eye.
The Potoo is as equally well camouflaged as the Australian Tawny Frogmouth.
Was going to say that. They are related....
2:42 Amazing! Thank you for this upload, came here from someone else sharing.
Great job! Nicely done video and awesome footage! Thank you!
Just saw one of these in Nicaragua, thanks to the incredible spotting of my guide. My favorite bird of the whole trip!
We have a similar bird in Australia called the Tawny Frogmouth 🥰
Very similar and closely related to the Australian Tawny Frogmouth, and yet half a world away!
different family but look alike
✌
VERY well-done video about a fascinating bird I never even ever heard of before!
What a beautiful animal. The world has been blessed with so many wonders and we still don't appreciate what we have all been given.
Toothless!!!
How many toothed birds can you name?
nickwalco thank you
holy shit a young gordon ramsey
no, if it was gordon ramsey, he's be sayin, THIS FUCKIN' BIRD ERE, RIGHT?
Thank you for being respectful and not getting too close!
Intresting! First time ever hearing of this type bird. Thank you for sharing!
I wonder if moths are ever so unwary as to land on the bird. Multipurpose camouflage!
I don't know if I'm terrified of it or I think it's cute...
The Potoo is very similar to our native Australian bird the Tawny
Frogmouth. Beautiful, amazing birds.
What an amazing bird species a potoo is and it’s call is quite haunting too
Why does this Potoo look drastically different than the one I saw online? The one I saw had brownish-grey feathers and its eyes were completely black instead of just the pupil being black.
Its so cute owo
id never heard of these 2 days ago now im binge watching , i need and want one and they sound amazing
That's 5 minutes of my life I will never get back . . . and I am OK with that. Fascinating!
He's my science teacher 📝! if you are seeing this Mr Miller , hi!
Hola Maria Belen, soy Ivanna lol
hola Ivanna:)
Lol Hola Maria belen
+Rashell Arevalo hola
WHO ELSE GOT SCARED WHEN IT FLEW AWAY
I clicked on a Potoo video out of curiosity and now they're all TH-cam is recommending me. This is probably my fifth video 😂
Great video. 35 yrs ago when I heard these birds high in the jungle canopy under the moonlight, in Costa Rica and in Cuyabeno in Ecuador, these birds had never been photographed in the wild and were unknown even to native biologists. Amazing to see video like this today!