Tawny Frogmouth: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Owls and Night Birds · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. It looks like an owl, but it is not one. Owls grab prey with strong talons, while this bird has weak feet and catches insects with its wide beak.
2. By day it perches on a broken branch with its head tilted up. Its streaky grey feathers make it look just like part of the tree.
3. During the day it may just sit with its mouth open and snap it shut when an insect wanders inside.
4. Partners stay together for life. The male gently strokes the female's feathers with his beak, sometimes for 10 minutes or more.
5. To save energy in winter, it slows its heart and lets its body cool. At night its temperature can drop by up to 10 °C.

The quiz

1. How does a tawny frogmouth catch its insect prey?

• With powerful talons
• With its beak (correct)
• With a sticky tongue
• With a web

Unlike owls, it has weak feet and catches prey with its beak.

2. What does a perching tawny frogmouth look like by day?

• A bunch of flowers
• A wasp nest
• A pile of leaves
• A broken tree branch (correct)

Its streaky grey feathers blend into a broken branch.

3. What lazy trick can a tawny frogmouth use to feed by day?

• Sitting with its mouth open for insects (correct)
• Stealing food from cats
• Fishing with a stick
• Digging for roots

It may sit with its mouth open and snap it shut when an insect enters.

4. How long do tawny frogmouth partners stay together?

• One season
• A few days
• For life (correct)
• Until the eggs hatch

They form partnerships for life.

5. By how much can its body temperature drop on a winter night?

• Up to 10 °C (correct)
• Up to 50 °C
• Not at all
• Exactly 1 °C, always

Night torpor can lower its body temperature by up to 10 °C.

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