Papuan Frogmouth
Podargus papuensis
NativeStatus
Fairly CommonRarity
Bird Gallery
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Species Description
The Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis) is the largest frogmouth species in Australia and among the biggest night birds in its family. It is a strictly nocturnal bird found in northern Queensland, New Guinea, and the Aru Islands.
Fun Facts
When roosting during the day, they adopt a stiff, upright posture that makes them look like a broken branch, providing excellent camouflage.
1. Large, heavy-bodied night bird with a broad, bulbous bill and long tail.
2. Males are darker and marbled; females are more rufous and uniform.
3. Often shows bright red eyes, which can also appear orange or yellow.
Papuan Frogmouths inhabit the edges of rainforests, mangroves, gallery forests, and open woodlands, especially near water, in northeastern Queensland from Cape York Peninsula south to the Paluma Range, as well as New Guinea and the Aru Islands. By day, they roost motionless on horizontal branches, often blending in with their surroundings. At night, they perch on open branches or posts to hunt.
Physical Attributes
Height
55 cm
Size Relative to Other Birds90%
Top Locations
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