Help identifying these owls / frogmouths please

[cajun]

Last night I heard what I first thought was a frog, when I spotted silhouetted in a dead tree this "owl" emitting a low growl. Possibly a mating call as the second joined a minute later.

Sorry about the photos, I was very rushed. I have also looked and listened via google with no luck I live close by RNP and Heathcote NPS.

You help would be much appreciated.

[kitty]

The pictures are not clear but based on the feathers and location my guess is Tawny Frogmouth. They normally oo-ooom but they can growl. How big were they - 40cm?

Last edited by kitty on Sun 20 Dec, 2015 8:16 am, edited 1 time in total.

[MickyB]

You beat me to it kitty. Was going to say exactly the same thing. The tawny frogmouth sounds like this http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/sites/w ... goides.mp3

[cajun]

many thanks for the quick replies. Definitely not the sound in the link, but I do know that most birds have a range of vocalisations.

We have some amazing bird life here, in the past I have seen a powerful owl with a flying fox in it's talons, and yesterday 2 beautiful king parrots.

[north-north-west]

After upping the brightness the image is pretty clear - and the patterning on the wing definitely says Tawny Frogmouth. Love these birds, they just have so much character.

ps: pretty sure this is a juvenile

[neilmny]

Is this the sound?

[cajun]

Thanks NNW - looks much better!

Neil, that is closer. It was longer, deeper and and raspier. They appeared to be larger than juveniles, perhaps they were adolescents

Kitty - yes 30 - 40cm.