Tawny frogmouths, which live in Australia, have huge, wide mouths that make them unmistakable (though they are often confused with owls). Their mouths, however, also make them seem like fluffy little chicks their entire lives!
Not only are these guys cute, they're also useful. They're on of the most active forms of pest control in Australia, as they love to eat mosquitoes, flies, moths, beetles, worms, and other vermin. Believe it or not, their mouth fits the occasional frog as well!
Not only are these guys cute, they're also useful. They're on of the most active forms of pest control in Australia, as they love to eat mosquitoes, flies, moths, beetles, worms, and other vermin. Believe it or not, their mouth fits the occasional frog as well!
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The Tawny Frogmouth is a gentle, harmless bird. It has evolved over millions of years alongside the eucalypt (gum) trees they live in. Their feathers look exactly like the bark of these trees. They sit totally still.You can look right at one sitting on a branch but will never see it - unless it moves. The mouth has a smell that attracts insects. They are so well camouflaged that insects fly into their mouth. Staying absolutely still is also their only defence against predators. This worked until white colonists brought cats to Australia. Cats climb up the gum trees and kill these helpless birds. Now they are in danger of extinction.
The Tawny Frogmouth is a gentle, harmless bird. It has evolved over millions of years alongside the eucalypt (gum) trees they live in. Their feathers look exactly like the bark of these trees. They sit totally still.You can look right at one sitting on a branch but will never see it - unless it moves. The mouth has a smell that attracts insects. They are so well camouflaged that insects fly into their mouth. Staying absolutely still is also their only defence against predators. This worked until white colonists brought cats to Australia. Cats climb up the gum trees and kill these helpless birds. Now they are in danger of extinction.