Blog Search
Archive
Blog Statistics
  • Views: 3643934
  • Articles: 1366
  • Comments: 1027
  • Status: Public
  • Who's Viewing: 2
  • Guest
  • Guest
2 Guests  0 Members
Posted by bio_man   February 1, 2018   1031 views

The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds found from across India and southern Asia to Australia. They are named for their large flattened hooked bills and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take insects. The one's shown above are tawny frogmouths, and they exhibits one of the best examples of cryptic plumage and mimicry, which perch low on tree branches during the day camouflaged as part of the tree.

Their silvery-grey plumage patterned with white, black, and brown streaks and spots allows them to freeze into the form of a broken tree branch and become practically invisible in broad daylight. The tawny frogmouth often chooses a broken part of a tree branch and perches upon it with its head thrust upwards at an acute angle using its very large, broad beak to emphasize the resemblance. Often, a pair sits together and points their heads upwards, only breaking cover if approached closely to take flight or warn off predators. When threatened, adult tawny frogmouths make an alarm call that signals to chicks to remain silent and immobile, ensuring that the natural camouflage provided by the plumage is not broken.

Frogmouths are not considered owls for several reasons. Owls possess strong legs, powerful talons, and toes with a unique flexible joint they use to catch prey. Tawny frogmouths prefer to catch their prey with their beaks, have fairly weak feet, and weak flight. They roost out in the open, relying on camouflage for defence, and build their nests in tree forks, whereas owls roost hidden in thick foliage and build their nests in tree hollows. Tawny frogmouths have wide, forward-facing beaks for catching insects, whereas owls have narrow, downwards-facing beaks used to tear prey apart. The eyes of tawny frogmouths are to the side of the face, while the eyes of owls are fully forward on the face. Furthermore, owls have full or partial face discs and large, asymmetrical ears, while tawny frogmouths do not.

Frogmouth birds nocturnal owls camouflage
Posted in Interesting Facts
You might also like...
1 Comment | Write Comment
1
what a cute animal Slight Smile
Posted on Feb 1, 2018 by cantoon7
Random Article
   RSS Feed     Atom Feed     RDF Feed