Podargus strigoides
Description
The Tawny Frogmouth is a mottled grey bird with large yellow eyes, resembling an owl. Their colouring provides excellent camouflage as they sit quietly in the trees.
Distribution
Tawny Frogmouths are found across Australia and are common throughout the Sydney Metropolitan area.
Habits & Habitat
They are nocturnal and their diet consists mainly of insects. They hunt on the wing but also dig for insects in the ground. Unlike owls, frogmouths do not use their feet for catching or holding prey. They have a wide mouth and their beak snaps tightly together to capture insects.
During the day they may adopt a sedentary position on a branch or fence where they will remain until evening. When disturbed they raise their heads and streamline their body shape to simulate the appearance of a branch. They make a constant soft hooting sound as they call amongst themselves.
Frogmouths are generally not aggressive and will allow you to approach quite closely before they fly away. They make a fragile nest comprised of a flat bed of sticks sitting on top of a branch and are known to nest in the same site each year.
Links and References
Simpson and Day (1999), "Field Guide to the Birds of Australia", Viking