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Zoo Miami has announced that for the first time in its history, a tawny frogmouth bird has hatched.
Tawny frogmouths are unique looking birds often mistaken for owls due to their large golden eyes and wide faces. Though, like owls, they are nocturnal, frogmouths are related to nightjars which are in a different family. They are short and stout birds that usually measure between 10-20 inches in length and weigh up to 1.5 pounds.
Found in a variety of habitats in Australia and Tasmania, frogmouths prefer wooded areas where they use their cryptic coloration, combined with a stiff straight posture, to appear like a thick branch in a tree. Their excellent camouflage enables them to ambush their prey which consists mostly of insects, but they will also eat small mammals and reptiles if the opportunity arises. They get their name from their very wide mouth that has a relatively short beak which is what they use to catch their food.
Tawny frogmouths are monogamous and mate for life with both parents contributing to raising the chicks. Their populations are stable. Nevertheless, they encounter challenges such as habitat loss resulting from development and the risk of being struck by vehicles while pursuing insects attracted to headlights.
The parents of this chick were introduced to each other in November 2023 and began nesting in February 2024. The single chick hatched on Feb. 28. Zoo Staff carefully removed the chick for short periods of time during the first several days to weigh it and ensure that it was developing normally. Each time it was quickly returned to the nest where the parents continued to care for it.
Moving forward, the chick will be parent-raised unless zoo staff observe any issues that may require additional support. This frogmouth family is housed behind the scenes in Zoo Miami’s Avian Propagation Center (APC). This facility is designed to work with the AZA community to increase populations of rare and endangered birds, providing a vital focus on underrepresented species. Zoo Miami currently is housing 23 species of birds in the APC.
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