Potoos are nocturnal birds native to Central and South America, famous for perching upright on branches and blending in like part of the wood during the day. Their slow, mournful calls were first shared widely in wildlife clips, where viewers compared the drawn out sound to a person wailing maaaawwwm. The clip spread through meme edits and reaction videos because the call is instantly recognisable and oddly human. It remains popular for lonely, confused or dramatic moments, helped by the bird's wide eyed stare becoming a familiar reaction image online.