In The Brink of Extinction, Unique Bird That Is Called ‘Large Frogmouth’

The ‘Large Frogmouth’ is actually a species of bird that comes from the family of Podargidae. It can be widely found specifically in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and also Thailand. Their ecosystem is usually in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Nowadays, logging of its habitat poses a risk to its own survival, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed this particular species as being ‘near-threatened’.

It is considerably larger than other members of its genus and grows to a length of about 42 cm. The sexes are similar and the coloring is rather variable, the upper parts being mainly chestnut and blackish-brown, barred and spotted with white and buff. The underparts are dull brown or pale rufous, the belly being paler than the breast. The beak is horn-colored with a darker tip, the gape being yellow, the irises are some shade of light or dark brown, and the legs are a dull yellow.

Picture: eBird

The behavior of this bird is not well known. It hunts by night, on the ground and in the canopy, feeding on insects such as grasshoppers and cicadas. It roosts by day, perching on a branch or hidden in a hole, singly or possibly in pairs. On one occasion an individual was mobbed by a greater racket-tailed drongo until it flew off into dense cover. Sings, mainly by night, from a perch in a tree, its voice being variously described as a repeated ‘deep hollow-sounding tremolo’ or as a ‘series of four to eight loud, liquid trills’.

The ‘Large Frogmouth’ usually lays a single egg on a pad of down covered with lichens and also spiderwebs. The nest is firmly attached to a slender branch of a shrub or small tree. It consists of a circular cushion down on which the single egg is balanced. The egg would fall off were it not for the incubating parent bird which crouches lengthwise along the branch rather than across it.

Picture: Google

Sources: eBird

Adib Mohd

Recent Posts

Are We Ready to Protect Them? The Silent ‘Gamble Disease’ Targeting Youth

Calling for all parents, your full gazes are critically needed in this mounting threat. The… Read More

23 minutes ago

Who Will Be Malaysia’s Next “Raja Konten”? ST Rosyam Mart Launches Search with RM20,000 Up for Grabs

Rise and shine Malaysians, it’s time to become the ‘King of Content’! Strap that confidence… Read More

38 minutes ago

DJI Breaks the Rules of Light with Osmo Action 6? The World’s First Action Cam with Variable Aperture

Drumroll, please! DJI proudly rolls out the iconic companion built for today’s creators. Ready for… Read More

1 hour ago

Think You’re Faster Than a Box Jellyfish? Outsmart the Ocean’s Invisible Assassin Before It Strikes!

Between the calm waves that hit your body, beware of the unwanted creature. The one… Read More

9 hours ago

Skechers Boosts Team Malaysia’s SEA Games 2025 Prep With High-Performance Footwear

Skechers, the Comfort Technology Company™ and a global leader in lifestyle and performance footwear, proudly… Read More

20 hours ago

Tai Sun Drops A New Nut Range & Teams Up With Cocoraw For A Chocolatey Malaysian Mashup

Tai Sun, one of Malaysia’s most trusted homegrown snack brands, is levelling up the local… Read More

20 hours ago

This website uses cookies.