Tawny frogmouth Tawny frogmouth The tawny frogmouth ("Podargus strigoides") is a species of frogmouth native to and found throughout the Australian mainland and Tasmania. Tawny frogmouths are big-headed, stocky birds often mistaken for owls due to their nocturnal habits and similar colouring. The tawny frogmouth is sometimes incorrectly referred to as "mopoke", a common name for the southern boobook, whose call is often confused with the tawny frogmouth's. The tawny frogmouth was first described in 1801 by English naturalist John Latham. Its specific epithet is derived from the Latin "strix" meaning "owl" and "oides" meaning "form". Tawny frogmouths belong to the frogmouth
Southern boobook sites. Caves or ledges are alternative roosting sites if no suitable trees are available. Although unobtrusive, it may give itself away by droppings or pellets on the ground beneath. The southern boobook is mobbed by passerines if discovered. It may allow people to approach to within . The maximum age recorded from banding has been 15 years 11 months, in a bird caught and later caught again on Black Mountain in the Australian Capital Territory. Across Australia, breeding takes place from July to February, though peaks in October, and is generally earlier in more northern areas. Eggs are laid from