Use flexibility of perch types by the branch-camouflaged Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus): why this bird may occasionally dare to perch on artificial substrates

Abstract

ABSTRACT Animal species gain protection against visually oriented predators when they choose a suitable substrate that maximizes camouflaging. The choice of appropriate substrate may be particularly important during the brooding period when vulnerability of the parents and their progeny is high. The Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus) is a well-camouflaged bird that blends nearly perfectly into a branch extension. Camouflage may be so effective for this species that perched individuals may wait until the last second before fleeing a potential predator. We compared the features of day perch substrates used by this bird during nesting and nonnesting occasions. We accessed 1,560 photos online and found that Common Potoo predominantly use natural tree substrates for nesting and resting (1,510 photos, 96.8%), except for a small percentage of individuals (50 photos, 3.2%) that choose seemingly risky artificial substrates (e.g., wires, traffic poles, and even plastic bottles) as resting sites. In addition, a random...