Bird · GBIF taxon 2497109
Tawny Frogmouth
Podargus strigoidesAlso known as Mopoke
Tawny frogmouths freeze completely still when threatened, perching upright with eyes squeezed to slits to blend seamlessly into dead tree branches. Unlike true owls, they lack powerful talons and instead use wide, gaping yellow mouths to snap up prey from the ground at night. Matched pairs mate for life, roosting side by side each day and jointly defending their territory year-round.
NocturnalCamouflagedCarnivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Moth
- Beetle
- Mouse
Predators
- Feral Cat
- Red Fox
- Carpet Python
ThreatsVehicle collisions, secondary pesticide poisoning, feral cat predation
HabitatsEucalypt woodlands, forests, scrublands, parks, and urban gardens
Life span10–14 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCaprimulgiformes
- FamilyPodargidae
- GenusPodargus
- SpeciesPodargus strigoides
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Look along thick horizontal branches rather than in foliage, searching for a stiff, upright woody silhouette.
- Lighting: Avoid shining bright flashlights directly into their eyes at night, which disrupts their natural nocturnal vision.
- Respecting Space: Keep a quiet distance during the day so they remain calm and maintain their branch disguise.
Frequent Look-Alike (c) Ged Tranter, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ged Tranter · cc-by
Image unavailableTaxonomic Cousin 
Close Relative (c) Tom Field, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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