The world is full of strange and wonderful animals, each having evolved in a unique way to survive on this very competitive planet. One interesting example of this is commonly called the ghost bird.

Scientifically speaking, it is the great potoo (Nyctibius grandis), and it lives throughout much of South America.

When looking at the bird on its own, it will really stand out. It is between 48 and 60 centimeters tall (18.9 to 23.6 inches) and boasts a wingspan of 70 to 80 centimeters (27.6 to 31.4 inches). They have very large eyes and a mouth that is much larger than you would expect on a bird this size.

Their feathers are a light grey color, and unlike most birds, they exhibit very little sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females look very similar.

So, what makes this unusual bird stand out? Well, for one thing, its ability to blend in. This nocturnal bird sleeps throughout the day, though you are unlikely to ever see it doing so. This is because it has evolved so that its feathers blend almost perfectly with the bark of the trees common in the area.

To camouflage themselves even more, they generally sleep in a position where they stick their head straight up, allowing them to look just like a stick. In addition, they have developed the ability to become almost completely motionless while sitting or sleeping in a tree, so there is no movement to give them away.

During the night, however, this bird is an incredible hunter. Their large eyes allow them to see well at night, making them one of the best insect hunters in the region.

When this bird is ready to breed, they do not bother with building a nest. Instead, the female lays one egg in a safe spot on a branch in a tree where they sleep. Once hatched, the parents both care for their baby for about 90 days. At that point, the bird can fly and will quickly become fully independent.

While very difficult to spot, this bird seems to have evolved well to thrive in the wild as it is not considered endangered and lives across much of South America.

This bird looks so cool!

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