Thursday, April 10, 2014

Hairy Hodgson's Frogmouth

Anyone have any idea if the "hairy" head have any other purpose other than help in camouflage? I was wondering if the hairy feather on the head is use as a mosquito net to prevent insect from getting near their eyes? Or act as sensor to pin point the location of the insect and help them in hunting? 
 Hodgson's Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni)

 Hodgson's Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni)

 Hodgson's Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni)

 Hodgson's Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni)
Frogmouth are known to good in camouflaging. When they stay motionless, is hard to spot them if you don't know their exact location. This made them vulnerable and give the insect an opportunity to attack their eyes.
 Hodgson's Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni)
An insect managed to bypass the hairy head and landed on the left eye of the frogmouth. What do you think?

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Hodgson's Frogmouth 7/24 Parenting

I've been wanted to see a frogmouth for a very long long time. There are no frogmouth in Singapore as it was extinct long ago. So, I decided to try my luck oversea. I made a 2nd trip to Thailand in 2014. 

Is my lucky year I guess, I saw not just one but 6  Hodgson's Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni) all together at Doi Pak Hom Pok National Park. During nesting, both male & female will take turn to incubate the eggs. The male sits during the day, and the female will take over at night. In order to see both, I will have to visit the forest at night to look at the female bird. 
 Hodgson's Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni)
Female appear larger in size & are browner/redder compare to male. Photo on top is a female frogmouth sitting on the nest.
 Hodgson's Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni)
 During the day, the male frogmouth will take over the duty.
 Hodgson's Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni)
Likewise for another pair of  Hodgson's Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni) that I saw. Female looking after the nest at night.
 Hodgson's Frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni)
When I visit in the day, is the male that was sitting on the nest.