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birds

Tawny Frogmouth

Podargus strigoides

Short Description

Who's that? Not an owl, that's for sure! Tawny frogmouths may be nocturnal predators, but unlike owls, they sit and wait for their prey to come to them. Although their feathers are adapted for silent flight, they are somewhat weak fliers.

About the Species

Tawny frogmouths have stupendous camouflage.

These birds can blend in with trees so well that most people can't spot them, never mind predators that may want to eat them! When they feel threatened, frogmouths will stretch out their bodies, pointing their wide, flat beaks upward and stand completely still at the end of a tree branch. Voila! The frogmouth can all but vanish using this technique, almost exactly resembling an extension of a branch. Their cryptically colored plumage also aids these birds in catching their favorite prey: large moths. They sit and wait in trees, completely still, until an insect flies by and then snap! They snatch the prey up with their curved beaks and it's game over. When they are particularly hungry, however, these Australian birds will chase after their food, using silent flight to sneak up on other animals.

Words From the Experts

Quotes

These birds are often confused with owls, though they are more closely related to nightjars (like our Whip-poor-wills). They are masters at camouflage; they will often be seen with their beak angled upward, blending in with their branches. These birds are ambush hunters, sitting very still on a branch and wait for prey (usually insects, slugs/snails, and small rodents) to come near. Once they are in reach, they will pounce and grab it with their beak.

Cindy

Cindy

Did You Know?

The tawny frogmouth may look like an owl, but these birds are actually related to nightjars!

Facts

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Origin

Mainland Australia and Tasmania

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Habitat

Urban and wooded areas

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Size

Height: 20–53 cm |Wingspan: 64–97 cm | Weight: 200–600 g

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Diet

Insects, scorpions, frogs, snails, small mammals

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Predators

Carpet python, foxes, domestic dogs and cats

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Natural Defenses

Camouflage, intimidating predators, flying away

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Reproduction

Breed during the rainy season

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Status

Least Concern

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Life Expectancy

Up to 10 years in human care

  • Saving reptiles and amphibians
  • Saving Animals From Extinction
  • Culture Builds Florida
  • Florida Association of Zoos and Aquariums