The Tawny Frogmouth spend their days rigid, and so perfectly camouflaged, often in the fork of a tree, that they may be more common then we imagine. They can be found in many habitats, including forests, isolated bushland and urban areas,where their repetitive night call ‘oom, oom, oom’ can be heard.

At night they hunt for mice, insects and spiders on completely silent wings. They build sparse nests on horizontal branches of large trees, laying two elongated white eggs, sometimes visible from beneath. They also occupy abandoned nests of other birds.

Size: 33-50cm

Photos and Illustration: Mark Trinham. Photo of juvenile with parent: Tracy Wise