Batrachostomus cornutus
The Sunda Frogmouth, Batrachostomus cornutus, is a master of camouflage, an enigmatic nocturnal bird native to the Sundaic region of Southeast Asia. Measuring approximately 23-28 cm in length and weighing between 60-80 grams, its plumage is an intricate mosaic of browns, grays, black, and white, perfectly mimicking tree bark or dead leaves, allowing it to vanish against its daytime roost. Distinctive field marks include its broad, flat, frog-like bill fringed with prominent rictal bristles, l...
This species primarily inhabits lowland rainforests, often extending into secondary forests and forest edges, typically at elevations from sea level up to around 1000 meters.
Their diet consists predominantly of large insects such as moths, beetles, grasshoppers, and cicadas, which they capture by sallying from a perch.
The Sunda Frogmouth is strictly nocturnal, spending its days in a perfectly still, upright posture on a horizontal branch, relying entirely on its cryptic plumage for concealment. As dusk falls, it becomes active, adopting a sit-and-wait foraging strategy, sallying from a low perch to snatch larg...
The Sunda Frogmouth is endemic to the Sundaic biogeographical region of Southeast Asia, primarily found as a resident species throughout its distribution. Its main breeding and year-round range encompasses the islands of Borneo, Sumatra, and numerous smaller adjacent islands within Indonesia and ...
Least Concern
- Its name 'frogmouth' perfectly describes its unusually wide, flat mouth, adapted for catching large insects in flight. - It is a master of disguise, often mistaken for a broken branch, tree knot, or clump of dead leaves due to its incredible camouflage. - The Sunda Frogmouth possesses large, ye...