Tawny Frogmouths

Earlier this month on a walk in Centennial Park with some friends, we were lucky enough to see two Tawny Frogmouths - these remarkable birds are difficult to spot because they stay very still during the day using their expert camouflage to disguises themselves as tree branches.

Tawny Frogmouths are nocturnal, carnivorous and their soft feathers allow for silent flight. They have these enchanting large amber eyes, but despite similarities, they are not owls. In fact, they are more closely related to nightjars.

Frogmouths get their name from their large wide frog-like bill, and they hunt insect, slugs and snails, as well as some small mammals, reptiles and birds. The whiskers on their bill may help detect movement of flying insects. They mate for life and a mating pair often stay in the same territory for more than 10 years. Both parents raise the young and they can often been seen perched in pairs or the whole family (once the chicks have hatched) on the one branch.

Learn more about these remarkable birds here.