Tawny Frogmouth by danob
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
This is not an April Fool joke but a real animal that seems to cross the boundary of an Owl and other birds of prey.
The Tawny Frogmouth a native of Australia is a nocturnal bird with mottled grey or brown plumage that is excellent for camouflage on grey and brown trees.
This is highlighted by the frogmouth's ability to extend its body to resemble a broken off tree branch. It closes its eyes to hide its startling red or orange eyes, and amazingly has even evolved two nicks in its eyelids to help it see while camouflaged.
During the night they will attack potential predators by diving at them and clacking their beak together loudly. The use of beak as opposed to talons with which they catch their prey is another factor to seperate them from Owls etc.
Frogmouths have wide gapes, hence the name 'frogmouth.' They eat arthropods, small vertebrates and snails. Frogmouths nest between tree forks, and though the male incubates by day, both sexes will share incubation at night. They have broad wings and primary feathers fringed to help them fly silently.
Comments (46)
Amazing portrait and expression, Danny!!!
Wonderful photo. I've never heard of this bird before. Thanks for the very interesting info.
~Beautiful, Elegant & Magical~ Thanks for sharing... FABULOUS!!!
Stunning capture my friend.Thank you for sharing this bird as well as the information abouth this bird.
fantastic pic Danny!
wow..!!!! Marveolus capture...well done..!!!
wow hes stunning ... you take amazing shots !
A strange bird it is. Your photograph isn't strage at all.. it is just beautiful.
beautiful!
GREAT.........5+++
Gorgeous details and focus.
Another amazing image!
Wow ! what a beauty !
the amazing and fantastic picture:-)
Beautiful portrait. Always been a favorite in photos though I haven't seen one. They seem alot like nighthawks, and I did get to see one of them up close. He was laying lengthwise along a rough fence plank, fairly well camouflaged except for his size. This is a wonderful shot---I wish mine had been even half as good.
Actually, Tawny Frogmouths are not owls, although they do resemble owls in some respects. I once went on a night hike in my native Melbourne to see some nesting, as well as the more strangely named Boobook. They are often very hard to see in the wild, as the eucalyptus on which they often perch are so similar in colour that they look almost exactly like a broken branch stump.