Tawny Frogmouth

Podargus strigoides

Family: Podargidae (Australian Frogmouths, 3 species in Australia)
Size: M 48cm, F 34 cm
Distribution: All of Australia
Status: Common
Habitat: Woodlands
References: Simpson and Day, Reader's Digest

The Tawny Frogmouth is around a lot but not that often seen. It is noctural and sleeps in the day, with its body extended to look like a log. Its position, stillness and colouring combine to make it very hard to see.

They have a strange call, which is kind of creepy, that goes "oo oo oo oo oo oo...".

They are not owls although many people think that they are, because they fly at night and they eat small animals (like an owl), and they kind of look like and owl.

You can download Tawny Frogmouth Desktop Wallpaper of the second photo below. Click on the link in this paragraph and then right-click on the image and select "Set As Desktop Background...".

Alternatively, you can right click on the link above and then select "Save Image As", or "Save As", or "Save Link As..." (depending on what web browsing software you are using). Once you have saved the photo to your computer, click "Set As Desktop Background".

Tawny Frogmouth - Podargus strigoides
Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. High Resolution (2191 x 1867)

Tawny Frogmouth - Podargus strigoides
Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. High Resolution (2802 x 1899)

Tawny Frogmouth - Podargus strigoides
Artwork: John Gould, 'The Birds of Australia', 1848. Original Scanned Image.

Some Birdwatching Resources

Field Guide to Australian Birds: Complete Compact Edition, by Michael Morcombe. Based on the above larger book. It's a while since I've seen this one. The publisher's commentary says that "This slimline, compact edition contains the same information on mainland and Tasmanian birds as his best-selling handbook, the Field Guide to Australian Birds. Features include plastic jacket, QuickFind system of colour tags and Quick Index ensure durability and ease of use in the field."

Purchase from Australia (Booktopia)

Purchase from Australia (Angus & Robertson)

Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Nicolas Day, Ken Simpson, Peter Trusler.This is known to birdwatchers as "Simpson and Day". I like the pictures in this one the best out of all the major field guides. The information is still very highly regarded compared to most of the other guides. Many serious birdwatchers think "Pizzey and Knight" (listed here) is the best though. I bought this one since I liked the pictures so much I figured (correctly) that I would spend more time looking through it. I feel that I made the right choice since I love the pictures in this one so much. I have the 6th edition, the current one is the updated version of the 8th edition, which has a different colour cover to the original 8th edition with a black cover. I'm not sure why they haven't called this the 9th edition.

Purchase 8th ed. updated from Australia (Booktopia)

Purchase 8th ed. updated from Australia (Angus & Robertson)

Click here to purchase 8th ed. updated version from Australia (The Nile)

Click here to purchase from Australia (Fishpond)

Click here to purchase 8th ed. original version from Amazon

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