Marbled Frogmouth Podargus ocellatus Scientific name definitions

37–48 cm; 132–180 g (ocellatus). Plumage coloration variable; some accounts refer to distinct colour morphs , but variation in coloration appears to be continuous between the extremes. General colour of male’s upperparts ranges from dull grey-brown (often with intricate marbling and streaking) to deep rufous (often with very little marbling and few dark spots and streaks); underparts also variable, but most often with irregular whitish barring and longitudinal streaks of dark brown and blackish  . Distinguished from P. strigoides most reliably by longer tail and different vocalizations; P. papuensis is much larger, with different song. Female often darker than male, but not always separable. Juvenile not well described, but reported as rufous-brown, faintly barred white and tipped dusky on head and underparts, faintly barred dusky on back and mantle. Races  differ mostly in size and details of coloration; <em>inexpectatus</em> is the most distinctive, with finer dark markings on upperparts and clear white spots on wing-coverts.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Formerly included in Rigidipenna inexpectata as a subspecies but that species differs in tail morphology and osteological characters (1 Cleere, N., Kratter, A.W., Steadman, D.W., Braun, M.J., Huddleston, C.J., Filardi, C.E. and Dutson, G.C.L. (2007). A new genus of frogmouth (Podargidae) from the Solomon Islands—results from a taxonomic review of Podargus ocellatus inexpectatus Hartert 1901. Ibis 149(2):271–286. Close ). Plumage coloration and rainforest habitat differ from those of congeners, and may suggest some distant affinity with Batrachostomus, although similarities to latter may be due at least partly to convergent evolution. Taxonomy of S race plumiferus much confused in past, partly because of dearth of available specimens, leading to over-reliance on descriptions; it has been treated as a race of P. papuensis or of P. strigoides, but recent study of specimens and vocalizations (2 Smith, G.C. and Hamley, B.J. (2009). Variation in vocal response of Plumed Frogmouth (Podargus ocellatus plumiferus) to call-playback. Emu 109(4): 339–343. Close ) leaves little doubt that it is best regarded as a race of present species. Five subspecies currently recognized.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Humid forest; in addition to rainforest, also occurs at forest edge, and in tall secondary forest and vine forest. There are two unusual records of race plumiferus from within 20-year-old monocultures of hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii). Mainly in lowlands, but recorded up to 800 m in Australia and to 2200 m in New Guinea (3 Sam, K., and B. Koane (2014). New avian records along the elevational gradient of Mt. Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 134(2):116–133. Close ). Race marmoratus also reported from vine scrub, gallery forest along creeks and nearby eucalyptus and other woodlands (4 Pizzey, G., and F. Knight (1997). Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Angus & Robertson and HarperCollins, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Close ).

Adults are apparently sedentary in territories throughout year. No information on dispersal or other movements of young birds.

Diet consists mainly of large insects such as beetles and grasshoppers, with a single report of a frog being eaten. Hunts by hawking from prominent perch , typically within several metres of ground in forest substage, taking prey on the ground, foliage, branch or tree trunk after a shallow, diving glide; prey captured in bill. Large or hard items may be carried back to perch and battered vigorously before being eaten.

Highly vocal; frequently calls from perch in tree. Both sexes apparently use the full repertoire, but the calls show intersexual differences in frequency, duration and number of elements (5 Smith, G. C. and Jones, D. N. (1997). Vocalisations of the Marbled Frogmouth I: Descriptions and an Analysis of Sex Differences. Emu. 97: 290–295. Close ). The “kerloo” call, a song   that consists of phrase of 4–7 “coo-loo” units repeated in quick succession is used for inter-pair communication and is often uttered by both as an antiphonal duet. A threat call, used in territorial disputes, is a quick series of gobbling units that often terminate with loud, mechanical bill-snap: it is the only type heard throughout the year. There is also a quiet call, the ‘toad’ call, that appears to be used for communication between individuals that are close together (5 Smith, G. C. and Jones, D. N. (1997). Vocalisations of the Marbled Frogmouth I: Descriptions and an Analysis of Sex Differences. Emu. 97: 290–295. Close ). Vocal individuality is considerable and may be useful when censusing birds (6 Smith, G. C. and Jones, D. N. (1997). Vocalisations of the Marbled Frogmouth II: An Assessment of Vocal Individuality as a Potential Census Technique. Emu. 97: 296–304. Close ).

Aug–Dec (-Feb) in Australia; few data from New Guinea suggest Mar, May, Aug–Nov; large nestling on Bougainville in Aug. Presumably single-brooded. Nest is a small, flat or shallow platform of twigs, vine tendrils, moss, etc., placed 3–15 (exceptionally 25) m above ground on flat tree-fork or on crown of epiphyte. Clutch single egg  , infrequently two. The incubation period was c. 4 weeks at one plumiferus nest; both sexes apparently share incubation and care of young, with confirmation from specimens and direct observation that males incubate and tend young during day (7 Beruldsen, G. R. (2003). Breeding biology of the Plumed Frogmouth Podargus ocellatus plumíferus and Marbled Frogmouth P. o. marmoratus. Australian Field Ornithology. 20: 126–138. Close ); nestling has white first down. It is reported that usually only single young fledges from nests on Cape York Peninsula, even with two-egg clutches. Birds are territorial and respond to playback during the breeding season (8 Smith, G.C. and Hamley, B.J. (2009). Variation in vocal response of Plumed Frogmouth (Podargus ocellatus plumiferus) to call-playback. Emu. 109(4): 339–343. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Occupies a large geographical range. Nevertheless, the status of both subspecies in Australia gives cause for concern, since they depend on rainforest fragments. In particular, <em>plumiferus</em> has declined greatly owing to widespread destruction of its forest habitat for agriculture, grazing, and timber production, with the result that it is now a rare bird that will require careful monitoring in future; although a recent survey found it at 250 sites, many of these are in tiny fragments of forest that support very small numbers.