They have relatively long bills and rictal bristles. The nostril openings are oval and covered by some rictal bristles. The nostril is exposed and there are no rictal bristles. "Caprimulgus" species have relatively long bills and rictal bristles. It is large-headed with well-developed rictal and nasal bristles, which are used as sensory organs. This genus is distinctive among the Old World nightjars in lacking long rictal bristles. The iris is crimson and there is no white rictal spot. Rictal bristles are found around the eyes and bill. The rounded tail has twelve feathers and there are no rictal bristles. This caprimulgid has a large, flattened head with large eyes; facially it lacks rictal bristles. The rictal bristles round the beak are long and form a basket-like structure. Rictal bristles are stiff hair-like feathers that arise around the base of the beak. Unlike many insectivorous birds, it lacks rictal bristles at the base of the beak. Unlike the closely related nightjars, the potoos lack rictal bristles around the mouth.