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Papuan Frogmouth
(Podargus papuensis)
: "Large Frogmouth", "Plumed Frogmouth"
Size: 50-60 cm
Weight: 290-570 g; 415 g (male average), 315 g (female average)
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
The Papuan Frogmouth is by far the tallest of all frogmouths found in Australia, with the
biggest head and strongest bill. Their
highly cryptic
plumage is
dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females are slightly different.
Male Papuan
Frogmouths are primarily light silvery-grey with an abundance of
brownish-grey scalloping on the front, while the back is more
brownish-grey with lighter scalloping.
Female Papuan Frogmouths are slightly smaller than males and have more
rufous-brown colours with finer scalloping.
The tails of both sexes have barred feathers of tapered lengths.
The eyes of both sexes are conspicuously red (this is not only
a photographic artefact when using a flash). The bill, legs
and feet are grey.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Compared with Tawny
Frogmouths, Papuan Frogmouths are much taller (especially
when compared with race "phalaenoides" of the Tawny Frogmouth, which is found
in the northern tropics). Note that Papuan Frogmouths snap their
bills and make hissing sounds, while Tawny Frogmouths don't.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Papuan
Frogmouth at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Papuan Frogmouth is available
HERE
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Papuan Frogmouths populate West Papua (Indonesia), New Guinea,
the islands
along Torres Strait and the far north-eastern corner of
Australia.
On the Australian continent, Papuan Frogmouths
are found only on Cape York peninsula and a coastal strip
as far South as the estuary of the Burdekin River. Nominate race
"baileyi"
is found on the tip of Cape York peninsula, to about Cape
Melville. Farther South, along the QLD (near-)coastal fringe,
one finds race "rogersi".
Papuan Frogmouths have a preference for the margins of
rainforest,
gallery forest
and mangrove
swamps.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
M. Mearns reports spotting a Papuan Frogmouth, race "bayleyi", at Punsand Bay,
Cape York Peninsula, QLD, in October 2008.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has kindly been contributed by M. Mearns.
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Photos |
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Race "bayleyi"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Frontal view of a male Papuan Frogmouth with its head turned sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Punsand Bay, Cape York Peninsula, QLD, October 2008]
Near-frontal view of a male Papuan Frogmouth with its head turned sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Punsand Bay, Cape York Peninsula, QLD, October 2008]
Lateral view of a male Papuan Frogmouth (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Punsand Bay, Cape York Peninsula, QLD, October 2008]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
