These Not-Quite-Nightjars Might As Well Be Muppets

In the Americas, nightjars are some of our most mysterious—and, let’s be honest, freaky-looking—birds. But nighthawks and whip-poor-wills aren’t the only bristled and bug-eyed nocturnal birds on Earth. Read on to learn about their entrancing cousins (in one case, extremely distant cousins). They may be nightjar lookalikes, but their weird and wonderful qualities are all their own.

Potoos

You’d be lucky to catch a glimpse of any of these species, but even in full daylight, potoos are
tough to spot. Found in South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, a perched potoo—with its mottled brown feathers and upright posture—makes a very convincing lichen-covered branch. Stick around after dark, though, and you just might hear the birds sing.

Frogmouths

These chunky predators of Australia and South and Southeast Asia are a force to be reckoned with. They catch their nocturnal prey, which includes insects, lizards, and even rodents, with an ambush. If necessary, they’ll beat their quarry against something hard before swallowing it down their prodigious gullets.

Oilbirds

The only species in their order, Oilbirds could well have been called “Batbirds:” They nest in colonies inside caves in northern and western South America, Central America, and Trinidad and can even echolocate. Exclusive fruit eaters, Oilbirds also have exceptional senses of sight and smell, which help them locate their meals.

Owlet-Nightjars

Despite their name—and, you know, everything about them—owlet-nightjars are more closely related to swifts and hummingbirds than to the rest of these oddballs. Elusive and understudied in their home range of Australia and New Guinea, much of their behavior remains a mystery.

This story originally ran in the Summer 2026 issue. To receive our print magazine, become a member by making a donation today.