Sri Lanka Frogmouth
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Podargidae
Scientific name: Batrachostomus moniliger, Blyth, 1849
IUCN Red list status-Least Concern
Did you know?
- Sri Lanka Frogmouth is the only frogmouth Species found in Kerala.
- Sri Lanka Frogmouth is also known as Ceylon Frogmouth.
Description
The Sri Lanka Frogmouth is a small nocturnal bird, measuring about 22 cm in length and 44-46 Gms in weight. The males are pale gray brown in colour. They have thin barring and spotted crown. Females are chestnut brown with white spots on wing coverts, belly and flanks. Short and stiff bristles are seen surrounding the eyes. The bill is wide and slight hooked. The nostrils are slit-like and the eyes face forward. The plumage coloration and patterns make them to mix with surroundings and it is very difficult to spot them.
Diet
The Sri Lanka Frogmouth is mainly insectivores. Insects, beetles and moths etc are their primary food. They catch the insects in flight or gleaning them from the ground or tree branch. The forage time is mainly night and it is done solitarily or in pairs.
Habitat
The habitat of frogmouth species is dense tropical forests, evergreen forests and bamboo thickets. Sometimes they are seen in plantations near to forests. In India it is distributed in the Western Ghats of South India especially in Kerala. It is found in Sri Lanka also.
Reproductive Behaviour
The breeding season is between January and April. The nest is made with moss, down feathers, lichens, barks etc and is placed in the fork of trees. Normally one single egg is laid. It is incubated by female in night and male during day. Incubation period is not exactly determined. The young ones are cared by both birds.
Call
The call is a loud, screechy “shkeerauw” and rapid “skwar-skwar-skwar” sound.
Related Species and Sub Species
- Large frogmouth(Batrachostomus auritus).
- Dulit frogmouth(Batrachostomus harterti).
- Philippine frogmouth(Batrachostomus septimus).
- Gould’s frogmouth(Batrachostomus stellatus).
- Hodgson’s frogmouth(Batrachostomus hodgsoni).
Migratory Behaviour
Common Resident