Bird - Tawny Frogmouth II
Giclee Print
Tawny Frogmouth II
25 x 25cm giclee print with 35mm edge ready to frame
With their nocturnal habit and owl-like appearance, Tawny Frogmouths are often confused with owls, but are actually more closely related to the nightjars. Unlike Owls, their feet are weak and lack curved talons. They are the masters of disguise and tend to use trees that match their patterns so it’s quite difficult to spot them.
The Tawny Frogmouth’s diet is made up of nocturnal insects, worms, slugs and snails. Small mammals, reptiles, frogs and birds are also eaten. Most food is obtained by pouncing to the ground from a tree. Some prey items, such as moths, are caught in flight, which has led to many unfortunate instances of birds being hit by cars while chasing insects illuminated in the beam of the headlights.
These birds mate for life. So deep is their connection they’ve been known to cry. A female bird was once observed making a low whimpering cry for several days after she lost her male partner in a road accident. She then rejected partners for the following two years.
Tawny Frogmouths share parenting equally, with the father usually sitting during the day and the mother of a night. They never leave their offspring on their own, usually squashing the youngsters between them when they roost. In between breeding season, the pair spend their time perching close together on trees grooming each other. Tawny Frogmouth live up to 14 years in the wild.
