Bird Size

About the length of a basketball (~42cm), the Tawny Frogmouth is a mid-sized frogmouth with a tail that is shorter than other frogmouths (compared to body length). It can also be distinguished by its constant ‘oom, oom’ call. You can tell it apart from an owl because of its very broad mouth, flat beak and long forehead feathers.

Bird Features, Colours, Behaviours

The females and the males look similar and have a deadly design to camouflage into bark. They are mostly grey with black streaks but there is a fair bit of variation in colour and size across country as the female can sometimes be a red or chestnut colour as well. Young are similar but have very fluffy feathers and are more light grey with not as many streaks.They have yellow to orange irises in big eyes. The beaks are very wide and flat and they like to eat insects and small animals. These guys fly very quietly and strongly.

Bird Social Behaviour

You might see them in pairs or small mobs perching during the day but at night they are usually seen alone.