Contrary to popular belief, Tawnys are not actually owls- although I'm sure they would look good in spectacles! The Tawny Frogmouth mostly eats insects where as owls eat larger prey such as mice and rats. Tawnys catch their prey with their beaks rather than with their talons, another way in which they are different from owls (owls have big toes to help them catch their prey). Owls fly around at night hunting food, but Tawny Frogmouths sit very still on a low perch, and wait for food to come to them. (They are a bit lazy!)
You may be surprised to know that many Tawny Frogmouths can be found in the inner city parks such as the Botanical Gardens. I saw an entire family there last year!
Tawny Frogmouths breed from August to December so keep your eye out for grey fluffy babies peering at you from the branches above.
Here is a photo I took a few years ago of a Tawny Frogmouth nest that was right outside my bedroom window in inner city Melbourne! If you look closely you will see the babies to the right of mum.
