tawny frogmouth

Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides

Photo: by Ray Smith		These astonishing looking birds are quite common in forest and open woodland across the whole of the continent. During the day, Frogmouths are masters of camouflage, blending into the branches so well, that with eyes closed and head up, Frogmouths become almost completely invisible. Tawnies, (large members of the Nightjar family, and related to Owls) are nocturnal hunters, preying mainly on ground-dwelling invertebrates, such as insects and spiders, but will also hunt mice.


1 to 2 white eggs are laid in a nest that is usually no more than a frail platform of sticks. Both sexes incubate, usually the female by night, the male by day. The young are covered with down at hatching and remain in the nest until able to fly. Most Frogmouths come into care as road casualties. Being ground feeders they will often sit on roads at night, and are very slow to rise.


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