With their heads pulled upwards they bear more than a passing resemblance to a chunk of wood! Although commonly mistaken for owls these birds are actually more closely related to Nightjars. They are a nocturnal bird they feeds on moths and such like. By day they roost in trees, where their camouflage can make them very difficult to spot.
We get a different species of frogmouth at home some times - you can see a post here and here.
You can find the latest post to my other blog by clicking on the Paying Ready Attention image on the RHS of the screen.
Now its your turn to get involved with WBW 5. Click on the link below to add you wild bird image to this collection. Link back to this page and visit the other birders out there.
Cheers - Stewart M
funky - almost creepy-looking - birds!
ReplyDeletewonderfully camouflaged!
ReplyDeleteWell spotted! They certainly are different to the pair I once spotted in our Mt.Lofty garden. They were exactly the same grey as the monterey pine branch they perched on high up in the tree.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, I did think it was a chunk of wood. I had to go back and look again. What an interesting bird!!
ReplyDeleteyes, I really had to look closely to see them. Such strange looking birds. I can´t understand how you did find them in the first place. :) Nice job.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have even known there was a bird there. I'm still having trouble making it out well. Very strange looking birds!
ReplyDeleteWow, you're not kidding! They blend in perfectly with their surroundings. I had to enlarge the photos to see them. Wonderful catch!
ReplyDeletewow! I've never heard of these interesting birds before.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have ever seen a more peculiar bird ... nor have I ever heard of it. I had to study the pictures to even spot it because I wasn't sure what I was looking at. You are just full of surprises ... You should be a tour guide. I do need to come to Australia, it seems to be a wonderfully interesting place to say nothing of the friendliness of the people. Thanks Stewart, I love it ...
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
Those guys are eerie -- I had to look and look, even after your explanation. -- very interesting post. Birds next week from here, I hope! (They're still in my camera).
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of these....they look odd and kinda eerie.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting photos. There are so many birds up north that we don't see at all further south.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool sighting, Stewart. They are awesome looking birds. I have seen one in the zoo but to see them in the wild is much more exciting. Thanks for sharing, great shots.
ReplyDeleteInteresting bird. I see why they're called Frogmouths.
ReplyDeleteStewart I'd never heard of this frogmouth; it is amazing! Nature is spectacular ...
ReplyDeleteFrogmouth is very elusive! Great capture!
ReplyDeleteI had to really...really study your photos in order to make them out. Wow...they remind me of our great camouflage savvy birds.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of the strangelooking birds, which I of course, never even heard about before!
ReplyDeleteThe second photo you can see how they kept their eyes closed.
Cool and a bit fun too!
Greetings from Pia in Sweden
Prehistoric-looking birds. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures you show of a bird I do not know / or have heard about.
ReplyDeleteHanne Bente
they sure do know how to hide!!
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't know Australia had frogmouths! We have only one species here - the SriLankan Frogmouth. I find them cute! I loved the Tawny Frogmouth too - what eyes!
ReplyDeleteOdd looking critters, and I bet hard to spot.
ReplyDeleteThese are great photos, Stewart. How we adapt to our environments!
ReplyDeleteCool bird and rather elusive!! They are quite odd but fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting, Stewart... I almost didn't make it this week.
Ich weiß jetzt nicht, was du meintest, denn ich habe doch meinen Vogel hier bei dir eingetragen.
ReplyDeleteKannst du mich bitte mal informieren, was du meintest?
LG Mathilda
...thanks for linking up at the Bird D'Pot this week. Your participation is much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThat is the most unusual bird...Interesting post Stewart. I has once asked one of the ornithologists at Cornell about the sunbathing behavior and they don't know for sure why, but your explanation is one of the theories. I have only seen it in chickadees here...I also found this little bit off info.. Michelle
ReplyDeletehttp://birding.about.com/od/birdbehavior/a/Bird-Sunning.htm
Stewart, Frogmouths are a family of birds to just dream about over here as you will know. Up in Lancashire even Nightjars are as rare as hen's teeth.
ReplyDeleteBy the way I linked to your blog in the RH column but my recent post days haven't coincided with your own, but are from a day ot two before. I'll do better next time. Phil
I am having such a late start to viewing, but oh to see a Frogmouth, that must be ever so cool. Really neat birds!
ReplyDelete