Sunda Frogmouth vs Tawny Frogmouth
Batrachostomus cornutus compared with Podargus strigoides
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sunda Frogmouth | Tawny Frogmouth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Batrachostomus cornutus | Podargus strigoides |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Podargidae | Podargidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 26.7 cm (10.5 in) | 45.8 cm (18.0 in) |
| Weight | 46.3 g (1.63 oz) | 430.0 g (15.17 oz) |
| Diet | Nocturnal forager on large insects and small lizards; sallies from perches to ground in dense … | Nocturnal ground-gleaning insectivore; drops from a perch onto large insects, frogs, and small lizards below. |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Sunda Frogmouth
Soft 'koo-koo' or melodic hooting; moderate pitch; calls from Sundaic lowland forest at night; pairs duet with answering calls; alarm a sharp hiss; ventriloquial quality
Tawny Frogmouth
Resonant, repeated 'oom-oom-oom'; low booming hoot; soft and melodious for such a large bird; calls at night from Australian eucalypt forest; alarm a harsh 'grr'
Geographic Range & Migration
Sunda Frogmouth
Found on Borneo, Sumatra, and adjacent small islands in lowland and hill rainforest below 1,000 m. Uncommon primary forest resident.
Tawny Frogmouth
Found throughout Australia including Tasmania. Resident in woodland, forest edge, and suburban areas. Widespread and common across the continent.
Conservation Status
Sunda Frogmouth
Tawny Frogmouth
How to Tell Them Apart
Sunda Frogmouth
Males brown-grey finely stippled with black and bearing white scapular spots; small white feather tufts above eye form horn-like projections; females rufous-chestnut with white spots; Sundaic species uniquely decorated with …
Tawny Frogmouth
Cryptic silver-grey upperparts with black shaft streaks; underparts paler grey with dark streaking; females often more rufous-tawny morph; vivid yellow eyes; heavy hooked bill; famous for bark-mimicking upright posture when …
About These Birds
Sunda Frogmouth
A medium-sized frogmouth (23-28 cm) found in lowland rainforests of Borneo, Sumatra, and Java. Dark brown plumage with small ear-tufts. Nocturnal insectivore of forest interior. Distinguished from other Asian frogmouths by its horn-like feather tufts above the eyes.
Tawny Frogmouth
A large, stocky frogmouth (34-53 cm) endemic to Australia, widespread across the continent. Silvery-grey mottled plumage provides superb camouflage against tree bark. Nocturnal insectivore pouncing on prey from perches. Australia's most commonly encountered nocturnal bird.