If the White Headed Stilt is a bird I enjoy seeing for its elegance, then the Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) is a bird I enjoying seeing for its strangeness. Often mistaken for an Owl, Frogmouths actually form a small cluster of species that are more closely related to Nightjars than other birds (and even that simplification is not really true!)
Basically, Frogmouths are Frogmouths!
As you can see, they have wonderful camouflage, and when sitting still - which is what they do for most of the daylight hours - they resemble a stick or a broken tree branch. They do seem to have favourite trees to roost in, and once you find them they can be seen much more reliably. The key difficulty is finding them in the first place.
These may not be the clearest portrait pictures, but I do think that they show the character of the bird.
Next time I may take some more distance images, and we could play 'where's the Tawny'!
As ever, to join in click on the link below. Hope everyone is well. SM
Unusal in every way, even the name.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are remarkable and unique in plumage and behavior.
ReplyDeleteThey would make great politicians - a big mouth and hanging around all day doing nothing!
ReplyDeleteDelightfully strange! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAmazing looking stick, eh…bird.
ReplyDeleteSo well camouflaged
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteI will never forget my first sighting of a TF... they are a delight! YAM xx
Interesting bird. I have never seen one.
ReplyDeleteThat bird is the very definition of 'camouflage" -- you could have played 'where's the frogmouth' today if you hadn't given the explanation first . It would have taken me a while to see the bird in the first picture if I hadn't read what you said. I enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteFantastic bird and shots... happy weekend
ReplyDeleteBonjour Stewart
ReplyDeleteFormidable série de ce super oiseau
Les photos de loin sont appréciées. J'avais photographié l'arbre entier lors de ma venue.
https://ailesetvie.blogspot.com/2019/08/cryptique-comme-un-frogmouth.html?m=1
Thank you Stewart for this amazing birder.