Greenspeak

English (United Kingdom)
You are here  : Home Resource Student's Resources Tawny Frogmouth
Tawny Frogmouth PDF Print E-mail

By Rebecca Evered, Curriculum & Content Director, Greenspeak International

FrogmouthThe Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) is an Australian bird common throughout the mainland and Tasmania. Males and females look similar, and are 35–50 cm long.They have yellow or orange eyes and a wide beak topped with a tuft of feathers. They make clacking sounds with their beaks and emit a loud booming call. Their feathers are grey or brown in color, and provide excellent camouflage, blending in with tree bark.

The Tawny Frogmouth feeds on rodents, insects, frogs and other small animals. They are nocturnal and spend the day roosting on dead logs or tree branches. Tawny Frogmouths are monogamous, and pairs stay together until one of them dies. They breed from August to December, usually using the same nest each year, repairing the untidy platforms of sticks. After mating, the female lays two or three eggs. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs and feeding the chicks. About 25 days after hatching, the chicks are ready to leave the nest and lead their own lives.

Although many people think that they are owls, there are many differences. They have different feet that owls use to hunt, while Frogmouths use their beaks. Their choice of prey is also different, with owls hunting larger animals like rats. Frogmouths usually sit and wait for food to come to them, whereas owls hunt while flying.

References
BirdLife International (2004). Podargus strigoides. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11-6-2009
Owlshttp://www.owlpages.com/articles.php?section=Owl+Physiology&title=Talons Retrieved on 11-6-2009
Tawny Frogmouth http://animals.jrank.org/pages/819/Frogmouths-Podargidae-TAWNY-FROGMOUTH-Podargus-strigoides-SPECIES-ACCOUNT.html Retrieved on 11-6-2009
Image from :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tawny_frogmouth_wholebody444.jpg
 

Australia

GreenSpeak City Sydney Harbour 75 200704 - Version 2

New Zealand

GreenSpeak Dad's Photos 6 200901 - Version 3

Canada

cn2_thumb

Greece

GreenSpeak Dad's Photos 8 200904 - Version 3