Tawny Frogmouth
Podargus strigoides
About This Species
Search tree hollows, forks and low branches in open woodland and suburban parks across Australia for this master of camouflage, which relies on its mottled grey plumage and rigid, upright posture to resemble a broken branch by day. At dusk it becomes active, hunting insects and small vertebrates from a perch with short, silent flights, and its deep, rhythmic booming call is often the first sign it is nearby. Still, moonlit nights in open forest or parkland are the best time to hear and locate one.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Viewing from several metres away with a torch briefly rather than continuously is usually enough, since prolonged bright light and close approach can disturb roosting or hunting birds.
- Wildlife protections apply broadly across Australian states, though specific rules on approach distance and use of spotlights can differ by jurisdiction, so check local guidance.
- Avoid disturbing a bird roosting by day, since flushing it wastes energy and can expose it to predators or mobbing.
LCAvesCaprimulgiformesPodargidae
Seasonal Activity
182,584 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Family
- Podargidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.