Tawny Frogmouth

[Don Railton]

Hi Guys

I am posting this purely because its an unusual looking bird and I thought others might like to see it. It's a Tawny Frog mouth and I was waiting outside a hotel (the same one I took the 500 to the bar in..) for a Taxi watching workmen trim branches from a palm tree when this bird and its mate flew from the palm tree and landed in another tree close by. I had all my camera gear with me and so I quickly whipped out my 50D, the 70-200 and 1.4 converter. (as you do...) I quickly snapped a few shots just as the Taxi rolled up... So, an average photo of a weird looking bird I thought I would share...

In case you are interested;
50D + 70 -200F4 is + 1.4 TC
280mm focal length
1/2000 sec at F5.6
ISO 320
Hand held
AV mode

DON

[annmpacheco]

Thanks Don, what a very cool bird. It reminds me of a "pootoo" that I looked for while in Panama. What wonderful camouflage this bird has as it melts into the branch. The feathers have all the bark like qualities. glad you took the time to capture this image and kind of you to share it here with us! Love the slanted eye as well. TFS

[Rachel Hollander]

Don - glad you had the equipment and were able to snap a few quick shots. Unusual looking bird and a fun record shot.

TFS,
Rachel

[Kerry Perkins]

Don, wow - what a different bird this one is! Never pass up an opportunity to get a shot like this for your collection. I love that lens for it's sharpness and color rendition, really nice. Thanks for sharing!

[carole wiley]

Thanks for sharing this, it may be the only one I ever get to see. Very interesting. Nice grab shot.

[John Chardine]

Great to see! Potoos and Frogmouths are related to the nightjars and nighthawks in the order Caprimulgiformes. The group is also called the "goatsuckers", which derives from the ordinal name and a myth about their feeding habits (they have BIG mouths for catching insects on the wing). As I mentioned once before, the name of the mythical monster "Chupacabra" from Puerto Rico means goatsucker too, although it's usually depicted as a mangy looking dog-like animal rather than a bird. The relationship of goatsuckers to other birds is still not resolved although they have been thought to be close to owls and swifts. Nightjars are generally vespertine (active in evening) or nocturnal and during the day roost on the ground, on tree branches and on the tops of buildings. Their cryptic plumage offers them protection from predators during the day.

[Don Railton]

Hi John

Thanks for the detailed info. Many (mistakenly I understood...) think they are owls here in Australia also but your post provides a clearer understanding of the current thoughts by Ornithologists. The pair were roosting in the Palm tree and I guess I was just luck to be watching the tree pruner at the right moment with my camera equipment handy...I would have never seen them otherwise.

DON