Great potoo, Sani Lodge, Ecuador

A hilarious observation. We had been on this birding platform for about an hour and all this while, this massive bird had been sitting here, undetected. Sani lodge staff spotted it by the ray of light hitting the beak. This photos has shadows lifted significantly because it was shot against the light.

Potoos use multiple strategies to go undetected. They perch motionless and without sound, have muted colors to blend into their environment and last but not least, they strategically position themselves as to be part of a tree trunk.