Tawny Frogmouth
Podargus strigoides
Meet the Tawny Frogmouth
Habitat & Range
Tawny Frogmouths are found throughout much of Australia, including Tasmania.
They live in a wide variety of habitats including forests, woodlands, scrub, farmland and treed suburban areas.
Trees are particularly important because Tawny Frogmouths rely on branches for daytime roosting and nesting, while nearby open areas provide places to hunt after dark.
What's on the Menu?
Tawny Frogmouths feed mainly on insects and other invertebrates, including moths, beetles, spiders and worms. They may also take small vertebrates when the opportunity arises.
They often hunt from a perch, waiting patiently before swooping down to capture prey with their broad bill.
Amazing Adaptations
Tawny Frogmouths are masters of camouflage. Their mottled grey and brown feathers closely resemble tree bark.
When threatened or resting during the day, a frogmouth may stretch its body upright, narrow its eyes and remain almost completely still, making it look remarkably like a broken tree branch.
Their large eyes help them see in low light, while their exceptionally wide mouth helps them capture insects and other prey.
Did You Know?
Tawny Frogmouths are often mistaken for owls — but they aren't owls at all!
Frogmouths belong to a different group of birds and have a broad, flattened bill rather than the strongly hooked bill of an owl.
Behaviour
Tawny Frogmouths are mainly nocturnal. During daylight hours they often sit motionless on a tree branch, relying on their extraordinary camouflage to avoid being noticed.
After dark they become active and begin hunting for food.
Tawny Frogmouths commonly form long-term pairs, and family members may roost close together. Their nests are usually simple platforms of sticks built on horizontal branches.
Conservation & Threats
Tawny Frogmouths remain widespread, but individual birds face a number of hazards in human-modified landscapes.
Vehicle collisions are a significant risk because frogmouths often hunt near roads at night. Habitat loss, removal of mature trees, entanglement and attacks by domestic animals can also cause injury.
Insecticides and other chemicals can reduce the insects frogmouths rely on for food and may also introduce harmful substances into the food chain.
Tawny Frogmouths at Trowunna
Tawny Frogmouths at Trowunna help visitors discover some of the remarkable adaptations of Australia's nocturnal birds.
Their camouflage, nocturnal behaviour and unusual feeding adaptations make them valuable wildlife ambassadors for teaching visitors about the diversity of Australia's birdlife.
Trowunna also provides care and rehabilitation for injured native birds, with release back to the wild pursued whenever it is appropriate and safe for the individual animal.
How You Can Help
- Slow down when driving at night and watch carefully for wildlife.
- Protect mature native trees and established vegetation.
- Keep cats contained and dogs under control.
- Reduce unnecessary pesticide and insecticide use.
- Never feed wild Tawny Frogmouths.
- Report injured native birds to an appropriate wildlife rescue service.
Wildlife Welfare Comes First
Tawny Frogmouths naturally spend much of the day resting, so a bird sitting quietly or remaining very still is not necessarily inactive or unhappy.
Please do not touch, call to or attempt to disturb Trowunna's frogmouths. Keep noise to a minimum around resting birds and only participate in feeding or close encounters when directed by a Trowunna wildlife keeper.