Frogmouths may appear similar to owls, but they are actually more closely related to nightjars.
They belong to thePodargidaefamily, which contains 15 different species.
Another 11 species are found across Asia and tend to be smaller.
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All the frogmouths are nocturnal birds, but there are some distinct differences between them.
The larger frogmouths are carnivores, preying on frogs, mice, and other small invertebrates.
By contrast, the Asian frogmouths mainly feed on insects.
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And while they all have bristles around the base of their bill, the insect-lovingBatrachostomusfrogmouths have longer bristles.
This is most likely to protect its eyes from the insects it eats.
This is why they’re so good at camouflage.
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Nestling up into trees, they blend right in thanks to the color of their feathers.
But they don’t just rely on this to keep themselves safe.
They sleep standing up, and if they sense danger in the air, they do something quite clever.
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Luckily, all species of frogmouths are thriving and are in no danger of extinction.
Frogmouths are a family of nocturnal birds that look similar to owls but are quite distinct.
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