Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Podargidae
  4. ›
  5. Podargus
  6. ›
  7. Marbled Frogmouth
Marbled Frogmouth
Photo · (c) Rolf Lawrenz, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Marbled Frogmouth

Podargus ocellatusQuoy & Gaimard, 1830

Updated 11 June 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
PODARGIFORMES
Family
Podargidae
Genus
Podargus

At a glance

The Marbled Frogmouth is a large bird, about 30–45 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
30–45 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Marbled Frogmouth look like?

The Marbled Frogmouth is a large bird, about 30–45 cm long and weighing 131–322 g.

The marbled frogmouth is a bird in the family Podargidae. The species was first described by Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard in 1830. It is found in the Aru Islands, New Guinea and Queensland. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
30–45 cm
Weight
131–322 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Marbled Frogmouth?

The Marbled Frogmouth is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Benjamin · New South Wales, AU

Call

jimchurches · New South Wales, AU

Call

jimchurches · New South Wales, AU

Call

Benjamin · New South Wales, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Marbled Frogmouth eat?

The Marbled Frogmouth feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

4 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Marbled Frogmouth in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Marbled Frogmouth live in Australia?

The Marbled Frogmouth is native to Australia, recorded across 5 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNew Guinea and satellites and east and north-east Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant

4 regions recorded