Physical characteristics of potoos
Potoos are types of birds that belong to the order Caprimulgiformes; and like all the other members that belong to this order, the potoos have big heads with large eyes that are of critical importance to them when it comes to night vision, given their nocturnal nature. Members of this order also have characteristic large gapes. The term gape is used to refer to the width of the mouth when it is open. This size of their gape is instrumental when they are catching their prey, which include organisms like insects. The gape of the Potoo is wider at the head.

A common characteristic of the members of the order Caprimulgiformes is the whisker-like bristles that normally line their faces. However, this important feature is in short supply for some Potoo species; either not being there completely or being very poorly developed.

While most members of the Caprimulgiformes order have whisker-like bristles on their faces, some Potoo species lack bristles, or their bristles are not well-developed. The visible portion of all potoos' bills is small. Potoos have long wings and long, pointed tails. They have short legs and strong toes.

The length of the Potoo from head to tail can vary from 8 to 23 inches (21 to 57 cm) and their weight is somewhere in the region of 1.6 to 22 oz (46 to 624 grams). Their soft feathers are of different colors and could be gray, blackish brown, yellowish brown or even white. A Potoo described as rofous is simply one that has a mixture of orange and rofous which is just another name for reddish brown.

Color bands in the feathers of the family of Potoo make patterns so that these birds resemble the trees that they inhabit. The adult males and female potoos have plumage coloring that is similar.

Geographical range
Potoos do not live anywhere in the earth and are most prevalent in Mexico, Nicaragua, Trinidad, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, Tobago, French Guyana, Jamaica, Guyana, and Hispaniola.

Habitat
These types of birds mostly live in rainforests where the amount of rain is high to produce plentiful growth. They may also live in coniferous forests or evergreen forests, seasonal change does not occur, which in turn means no shedding of leaves. However, traces of these birds are also found in savannahs which are characterized by less number of trees.

Behavior of Potoo
Potoos are solitary foragers, which mean they walk alone at night when hunting for food. They are less active during the day and can be seen perching on tree branch or trunks. There color camouflage makes them look like the trees they are perching on and this puts them out of the radar of their predators. They are hunted and killed for food by hawks, monkeys and other mammals.

They are very sensitive of their predators and are very difficult to catch because they disguise their predators that they have shut their eyes but are able to see.