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Tawny Frogmouth

(Podargus strigoides)
Alternative names: "Tawny-shouldered Frogmouth", "Tawny-shouldered Podargur", "Mopoke"
Aboriginal name: "buluurr" [yuwaalaraay]
Size: 34-52 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Tawny Frogmouths are nocturnal predators that are well-adapted to life in various habitats, including the semi-arid interior of the Australian continent. Consequently, they are found basically everywhere, including Tasmania. Only in the most arid region, from about the Nullarbor to south of the Kimberleys (basically the western half of WA to the south of the Kimberleys), they are found only occasionally - likely after substantial rainfall, when there is sufficient prey for them to feed on.

Tawny Frogmouths are usually found in open woodland, often also on farms and in gardens.

Sightings

Sightings of Tawny Frogmouths, which are nocturnal predators, were few and far between from 2003 to 2006. Birds were spotted at the Australia Telescope Compact Array observatory, 25 km west of Narrabri, NSW, in 2004 and at the farm where we lived until late 2006, 20 km south of Narrabri in April 2006 (including the nest shown),

From the winter of 2008 onwards a bird was seen regularly at our place 20 km east of Narrabri hunting from fenceposts and low tree branches. This particular specimen was quite tall, maybe 50 cm, and obviously a male. Its low-pitched, repetitive calls were intended to attract a female to its lair. A male was again seen during the 2010 mating season, after its low-pitched "whoop-whoop" calls had been heard from indoors.

Photos

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Do you want to know what it is like to look a Tawny Frogmouth in the eyes at night? If yes, click HERE!

Frontal view of a Tawny Frogmouth on a fencepost

Near-frontal view of a Tawny Frogmouth

Here the same bird as shown above, looking sideways

Portrait of a Tawny Frogmouth

Daytime portrait of a Tawny Frogmouth

This bird was seen preening with utter devotion...

... to the point that it sent down feathers flying

Two Tawny Frogmouths on their perch

This is mom with a chick (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)

Note how in different light they look much greyer; if one did not know for sure that these are the same birds, one might not want to believe it - here it is clear because of the identical setup of the two photos (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Dec Eggs: 3 - 6 Incubation period: 30 days Fledging age: 28 days

Given the right conditions, Tawny Frogmouths can breed at any time of the year.

Nest

Type: Rudimentary basket Material: Twigs, grass Height above ground: 2 - 15 m

The nest usually is just an untidy patch of twigs and grass spread out on a tree fork. Incubation is shared by male (day) and female (night).

Close-up view of a Tawny Frogmouth on its nest with two chicks

Its partner was sitting quietly in a nearby tree

Tawny Frogmouth on its nest in a fork high up in a tree

Different viewing angle, from the other side, after a laborious climb up a neighbouring tree

Sitting on the nest in the "broken limb" position...

Here, a few weeks later, with two chicks; one is leaning its head on mom's back, the second is lying low, with its head on its sibling's back

Tawny Frogmouth on its nest in an urban environment; this customer did not mind that photographer standing under the tree

Eggs

Size: 42 x 29 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Similar to some types of owls (e.g. Barn Owls), Tawny Frogmouths do not mind roosting and/or nesting close to humans.

Food

The photo below shows that Tawny Frogmouths feed, possibly amongst other types of prey, on frogs, in particular green treefrogs.

Tawny Frogmouth with a green treefrog stuck in its throat; the bird attracted our attention with the thwacking sound it made when killing the frog by hitting it against the branch it was sitting on