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Tawny Frogmouth  -  Podargus strigoides

Grey-brown, streaked, mottled plumage makes the Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) look like a weathered branch as it sits in camouflage pose in a tree. Prominent bristles on top of the broad bill enhance the camouflage. Tawny frogmouth spends daylight hours motionless in trees, often in plain view but unseen by passersby. The yellow eyes are partly open and the head sometimes moves imperceptibly to follow activities nearby. Becomes active at dusk and later hunting ground-dwelling creatures including large insects, spiders, frogs, small mammals and ground birds by swooping down from a low perch on silent wings to take prey from the ground. Grows 35 to 50 centimetres. Lives in woodlands, open eucalyptus forest and variety of other vegetation types; least often seen in treeless deserts, rainforest or wet, dense, tall eucalypt forests. Call is a low, resonant, persistent 'oom-oom-oom'. A widespread and locally common species which does not migrate. Found all over Australia, except in deserts and treeless plains. There are three geographic variants around Australia incorporating variations in size and colour. Males are always grey; females are grey, rufus or chestnut. Top photograph: Tawny Frogmouth stationary in fork of tree; note the broad, rounded beak with bristles above and the rounded tail. Judging by the colour this is a female. Bottom photograph: Yellow, partly open eyes are reported to be observing activity but the bird gave no sign of awareness.

Information. ¶   Field Guide to Australian Birds by Michael Morcombe, published Steve Parrish Publishing, 2000, pp200-1 ¶   Field Guide to the Birds of Australia by Ken Simpson and Nicolas Day, published Viking, 2004, 7ed. pp160-1. ¶   Photographic Field Guide - Birds of Australia by Jim Flegg, published Australian Museum/Reed New Holland, 2002, 2ed. pp208-9.

10 April 2008

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