'YES, NO...MAYBE' the Tawny Frogmouth - Framed* original artwork

About this bird:
Found throughout Australia and Tasmania, Tawny Frogmouths mate for life, with a breeding pair often staying in the same territory for more than 10 years! Looking like a shocked, electrocuted fuzz-ball, in its juvenile years this remarkable bird has evolved to be the ultimate master of disguise - easily being confused with a tree branch thanks to its oh-so soft, bark-coloured feathers. It’s highly likely most Australians have walked under a tree that a tawny frogmouth was roosting in and have never known it was there! Despite their owl-like appearance, they are more closely related to nightjars – lacking the curved talons characteristic of owls. After sleeping all day, at dusk, they shake their disguise and begin their hunt - utilising their huge, vibrant yellow eyes for nocturnal hunting. The bulk of 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 or other elevated perch. They build loose nests of sticks in the forks of tree branches with both parents sharing the responsibility of incubating the eggs and caring for the young. The male often incubates during the day, while both parents are involved during the night. Habitat loss is the most serious threat to the species, whether through land clearing, forestry or intensive bushfires. Conservation status: ‘Least Concern’.