Tawny Frogmouth
Podargus strigoides
The Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) is a uncommon frogmouth found only in Australia, weighing about 308 g. The tawny frogmouth is a species of frogmouth native to the Australian mainland and Tasmania and found throughout.
About the Tawny Frogmouth
The tawny frogmouth is a species of frogmouth native to the Australian mainland and Tasmania and found throughout. It is a big-headed, stocky bird often mistaken for an owl due to its nocturnal habits and similar colouring.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Tawny frogmouths are large, big-headed birds that can measure from 34 to 53 cm (13 to 21 in) long. Weights have been recorded up to 680 g (1.50 lb) in the wild (and perhaps even more in captivity), but these are exceptionally high. In the nominate race, 55 males were found to weigh a mean of 354 g (12.5 oz), while 39 females weighed a mean of 297 g (10.5 oz), with a range between both of 157 to 555 g (5.5 to 19.6 oz). Among the subspecies P. s. brachypterus, 20 unsexed birds were found to average 278 g (9.8 oz) with a range of 185 to 416 g (6.5 to 14.7 oz). In P. s. Voice: Tawny frogmouths have a wide range of vocalisations that can signal information about sex, territory, food, or predators. They generally use low-amplitude and low-frequency sounds to communicate, though some of their warning screams can be heard for miles. Nestlings make a number of unique calls expressing distress, hunger, or fear.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Tawny Frogmouth can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Tawny Frogmouth?
- Tawny frogmouths are large, big-headed birds that can measure from 34 to 53 cm (13 to 21 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Tawny Frogmouth?
- The Tawny Frogmouth is a large sized bird weighing about 308 g.
- Where can you see a Tawny Frogmouth?
- The Tawny Frogmouth is endemic to Australia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Tawny Frogmouth?
- The Tawny Frogmouth is most easily confused with the Papuan Frogmouth and the Marbled Frogmouth.
- Is the Tawny Frogmouth endangered?
- The Tawny Frogmouth is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Tawny Frogmouth for real
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