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Tawny Frogmouth

IUCN Least Concern (LC)

A family of Tawny Frogmouth's perched on a tree. They are brilliant at camouflage and sometimes you have to look twice to see if it's the branch or the bird.
Photography by Mardi Harrison
A family of Tawny Frogmouth's perched on a tree. They are brilliant at camouflage and sometimes you have to look twice to see if it's the branch or the bird.
Photography by Mardi Harrison
A family of Tawny Frogmouth's perched on a tree. They are brilliant at camouflage and sometimes you have to look twice to see if it's the branch or the bird.
Photography by Mardi Harrison
A family of Tawny Frogmouth's perched on a tree. They are brilliant at camouflage and sometimes you have to look twice to see if it's the branch or the bird.
Photography by Mardi Harrison
A family of Tawny Frogmouth's perched on a tree. They are brilliant at camouflage and sometimes you have to look twice to see if it's the branch or the bird.
Photography by Mardi Harrison
A Tawny Frogmouth in a tree, looking directly at the camera, not impressed.

Tawny Frogmouth

Podargus strigoides

  1. Overview
  2. Identification
  3. Songs & calls
  4. Habitat & distribution
  5. Behaviour
  6. Similar species
  7. Conservation

About the Tawny Frogmouth

Bird Overview

With their nocturnal habit and owl-like appearance, Tawny Frogmouths are often confused with owls, but are actually more closely related to the nightjars. Their feet are weak however, and lack the curved talons of owls. The leading edges of the first primary (wing) feathers of the Tawny Frogmouth are fringed to allow for silent flight.

Songs and Calls

A soft, deep, continuous, ‘ooo-ooo-ooo’ sound. Bird call recorded by: Fred Van Gessel

Scientific name

  • Podargus strigoides

Habitat

Location

Conservation status (IUCN)

Identification

Identification

The general plumage of the Tawny Frogmouth is silver-grey, slightly paler below, streaked and mottled with black and rufous. A second plumage phase also occurs, with birds being russet-red. The eye is yellow in both forms, and the wide, heavy bill is olive-grey to blackish. South-eastern birds are larger than birds from the north.

How to identify the Tawny Frogmouth

A Tawny Frogmouth in a tree, looking directly at the camera, not impressed.

IUCN Least Concern (LC)

Frogmouths

Colour

  • Black
  • Brown
  • Grey

Size

  • Medium (30 to 45 cm, eg: pigeon)

Shape

  • Owl

Songs & calls

Tawny Frogmouth

The main song & call.

Credits to the owner/recorder.

Habitat & distribution

Habitat

The Tawny Frogmouth can be seen in almost any habitat type except dense rainforests, alpine moors and treeless deserts.

Distribution map

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Behaviour

Behaviour

Tawny Frogmouths are nocturnal (night-active) birds. During the day, they perch on tree branches, often low down, camouflaged as part of the tree.

Feeding

Feeding

The bulk of the Tawny Frogmouth’s diet is made up of nocturnal insects, worms, slugs and snails. Small mammals, reptiles, frogs and birds are also eaten. Most food is obtained by pouncing to the ground from a tree or other elevated perch. Some prey items, such as moths, are caught in flight.

Breeding

Breeding

Tawny Frogmouths have a regular breeding season from August to January in temperate southern Australia, but birds in more arid areas may breed in response to heavy rains. Both sexes incubate the eggs. The male sits during the day, but both sexes share sitting at night. The nest is a loose platform of sticks, which is usually placed on a horizontal forked tree branch. Normally only one brood is raised in a season, but birds from the south may have two.

Similar species

Powerful owl sitting on tree branch looking and facing forward, bright yellow eyes, with a stripey white and brown chest

Powerful Owl

Ninox strenua

Read more

Conservation

IUCN Least Concern (LC)

  • EX
  • EW
  • CR
  • EN
  • VU
  • NT
  • LC
  • DD

IUCN status reflects the conservation status of this species globally.

Threats to the species

  1. Climate change

    Long-term changes in temperature, rainfall, sea levels, and extreme weather that alter habitats, food availability, breeding success, and survival. 
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  2. Collisions with infrastructure

    Injury or death caused by birds striking human-made structures such as buildings, windows, powerlines, wind turbines, fences, or vehicles. 
    See which birds are affected

  3. Domestic animals

    Impacts from owned animals (such as cats and dogs), including predation, disturbance, or habitat degradation.
    See which birds are affected

  4. Habitat destruction

    The permanent loss or severe degradation of natural habitat due to land clearing, urban development, agriculture, mining, or infrastructure. 
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  5. Invasive species

    Non-native plants, animals, or pathogens that negatively affect native species through competition, predation, habitat alteration, or disease. Includes predation by foxes, cats, rats, and even Australian animals that have been translocated (eg:  Sugar Gliders in Tasmania). 
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  6. Rodenticide/poison

    Direct or secondary poisoning from toxic substances, including rodenticides or other chemical control agents. 
    See which birds are affected