Tawny frogmouths take patience to appreciate. They will reward you with insights into their remarkable lives | Stephanie Convery

Spotting tawnies is a bit like completing a crossword: it's easier once you are familiar with the patterns, but you can always get stumpedVote here for the 2025 Australian bird of the yearSee more Australian bird of the year contentThe most popular family in my neighbourhood is also one of its shyest. The adults, bedecked in a mottled silvery-grey, tend to fade into their surroundings. Their children are strange goggly creatures with saucer-like eyes, and usually well-hidden from passersby. The whole family keeps nocturnal hours. For those who know them, however, visiting at any hour becomes a kind of compulsion.So it was for my partner and I when we moved to a new house and found tawny frogmouths in a nearby park. Continue reading...