Tawny Frogmouth

Natural Shelter

They are nocturnal and retreat daily to forks of large tree branches. A priority is to keep and maintain mature trees in your garden to provide suitable shelter for Tawny Frogmouths.

Tawny Frogmouths rely on camouflage for daytime protection and position their bodies to resemble broken tree branches. They roost in large eucalypts, paperbarks, and peppermint trees to name a few. Plant a large habitat tree in the garden can provide suitable habitat for future generations.

Tawny Frogmouths pair for life and are known to use nests over several years. In the fork of large tree branches the pair build their nest from twigs, bark, and other materials found in home gardens.

Novel Shelter

Not required.

Providing natural sources of food

A garden with trees, shrubs, groundcovers, clumping grasses, and plenty of leaf litter can provide foraging habitat for Tawny Frogmouths. They eat invertebrates, small animals, and capture flying insects (moths, etc) on the wing.

Tawny Frogmouths have an unusual habit of foraging on the ground. They wait on a prominent log, rock, or low hanging branch and pounce on ground dwelling prey including spiders, centipedes, frogs, and mice. A large log or rock in the garden can provide Australian Owlet-nightjars a perching area near the ground to search for ground dwelling prey.

Providing sources of water

Tawny Frogmouths visit bird baths and ponds to drink and bathe. Shallow water containers hanging from tree branches can provide water and lessen the rick of cats attacking birds.

Tawny Frogmouths will visit frog ponds. Deep ponds are hazardous for small birds. If they fall in, partially submerged rocks or logs can provide a safe avenue for a bird to leave the water.