Podargidae

views updated May 14 2018

Podargidae (frogmouths; class Aves, order Caprimulgiformes) A family of brown, grey, and black, cryptically coloured birds which have broad, flat, hooked bills with a wide gape and basal bristles. They have mediumlength, rounded wings, and a long tail, are nocturnal, inhabit forest and bush, and feed on insects and small mammals caught on the ground. They nest in tree forks and the 10 species of Batrachostomus make their nests from a pad of down secured to a horizontal branch. There are two genera, comprising 13 species, found from south-east Asia to Australia.

frogmouths

views updated Jun 08 2018

frogmouths See PODARGIDAE.

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