Tawny Frogmouth?

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RedBrowedFinch
RedBrowedFinch's picture
Tawny Frogmouth?

I do believe this guy is a Tawny Frogmouth, but correct me if I'm wrong (Sorry, it's only available in black & white). This was taken last night by my husband - who's usually awake while I'm asleep. He told me there were two of them "scoping the territory". smiley

Take Care,

TrudyC

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Spot on Trudy, Tawny Frogmouthyes How lucky are you! Well done husbandyes

M-L

RedBrowedFinch
RedBrowedFinch's picture

Thanks M-L,

I'm surprised these birds aren't classified as owls. I've only ever seen them during the night time, and they have a striking resemblence to Owl varieties...Thank you!

Take Care,

TrudyC

Regards

TrudyC

aka RedBrowedFinch

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Here are some facts about Owls and Frogmouths (they belong to the Nightjars)

The Tawny Frogmouth is almost exclusively insectivorous, feeding rarely on frogs and other small prey.[3] They catch their prey with their beaks rather than with their talons, another way in which they are different from owls. Owls fly around at night hunting food, but Tawny Frogmouths generally remain sitting very still on a low perch, and wait for food to come to them. They sometimes drop from their perch onto prey on the ground. The bird's large eyes and excellent hearing aid nocturnal hunting.[6]

Differences from owls[edit]

Tawny Frogmouths and owls both have anisodactyl feet - meaning that one toe is facing backwards and the other three face forwards. However, owls’ feet are much stronger than the feet of the Tawny Frogmouth as owls use their feet to catch their prey. Owls are also able to swing one of their toes around to the back (with a unique flexible joint) to get a better grip on their prey. Tawny Frogmouths have fairly weak feet as they use their beaks to catch their prey. Owls eat small mammals, like mice and rats, so their bones are shorter and stronger than those of Tawny Frogmouths which usually hunt smaller prey. Tawny Frogmouths typically wait for their prey to come to them, only rarely hunting on the wing like owls.

M-L

Canonguy
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The easiest way to explain to people the difference is that owls KILL with their feet and tawnies DO NOT KILL with their feet. Nice shot.

kathy077
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what interesting facts on the difference between tawny frogmouths and owls, have just been visiting a friend in Kalamunda W A, and there are two tawny frogmouths sitting on a branch in the yard, they have been there for about a months, and what a time to go without a camer.

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