Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides), 1790s

Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides), 1790s

TAL & Dai-ichi Life Derby Collection, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW; Purchased from The Rt Hon. The 19th Earl of Derby, 2011; PXD 1098, vol. 4, f. 33

Watercolour

Tawny frogmouths are nocturnal (night) birds, often mistaken for owls. They are more closely related to the Nightjar family.
Frogmouths have existed for about 56 million years.
Tawny frogmouths usually sleep during the day. When disturbed they raise their head and stiffen their body, a behaviour known as ‘stumping’.
When startled, Tawny Frogmouths make a beelike buzzing sound. They also use an ‘oom-oom-oom’ call to communicate.
The Tawny frogmouth is distributed throughout Australia and is common to almost any habitat including forest, woodland and urban areas.
Tawny frogmouths use their wide ‘frog-like’ mouths to feed on nocturnal insects, worms, slugs and snails. They also drop down from tree perches to catch small reptiles, frogs and other birds.