MIAMI – Zoo Miami is celebrating a historic moment after it announced the successful hatching of a tawny frogmouth bird, marking the first time in the zoo’s history, officials confirmed Friday.
The chick, born on Feb. 28th, is being carefully monitored and parent-raised at Zoo Miami’s Avian Propagation Center, according to the zoo.
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They said staff have intervened minimally, only weighing the chick periodically to ensure proper development. The APC focuses on increasing populations of rare and endangered bird species, which currently houses 23 species of birds in the APC.
Often mistaken for owls due to their large golden eyes and wide faces, tawny frogmouths are unique nocturnal birds closely related to nightjars, distinct from owls despite their similarities.
Measuring between 10 to 20 inches in length and weighing up to 1.5 pounds, the stout birds are found across various habitats in Australia and Tasmania, favoring wooded areas where they blend seamlessly with their surroundings, according to the zoo.
Employing cryptic coloration and a stiff, straight posture, they mimic branches to ambush their insect prey, though they may also consume small mammals and reptiles, a news release stated.
Named for their wide mouths and short beaks, tawny frogmouths are monogamous and raise their chicks together, contributing to stable populations despite challenges like habitat loss and vehicle collisions.
Meet the parents: