Javan Frogmouth
A species of Lesser Frogmouths Scientific name : Batrachostomus javensis Genus : Lesser Frogmouths
Javan Frogmouth, A species of Lesser Frogmouths
Botanical name: Batrachostomus javensis
Genus: Lesser Frogmouths
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Lars Petersson
Description
The species grows to a length of about 22 cm (9 in). The upper parts are a mixture of brown, grey, buff and white, spotted with black. The scapulars have several large oval white spots. There is a white stripe above the eye and a white semi-collar. The underparts are brown with buff, cinnamon and white speckling. The flanks and belly are generally paler, with some brown barring. Female birds are rather tawnier and brighter than males, and juveniles are similar to the adults but paler and duller. The beak is brown, the iris yellow and the legs brown.
Size
25 cm
Nest Placement
Tree
Feeding Habits
Javan Frogmouth primarily consumes insects like beetles, grasshoppers, earwigs, caterpillars, and moths, with occasional snacks of termites, cockroaches, and even a small snail. They capture prey by fluttering at foliage and tree trunks, sometimes foraging on the ground or catching insects in flight.
Habitat
The habitat of javan Frogmouth encompasses evergreen forests, including both plains-level and montane regions. These birds thrive in dense rainforests, particularly within the understorey, and show a preference for areas with rich tree diversity and thick undergrowth. They are also found in edge environments and tall plantations. Broadly, they inhabit regions characterized by lush, tropical forest ecosystems.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Distribution Area
The Javan frogmouth ranges across tropical southeastern Asia. There are three subspecies: B. j. continentalis is found in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam; B. j. affinis is found in Peninsular Malaysia, Philippines, Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, Borneo and Sumatra; and B. j. javensis occurs in Java. The typical habitat is lowland evergreen tropical forest including swampy areas, especially areas with dense undergrowth. It sometimes occurs in deciduous forest, and also in plantations, secondary growth forests and urban parks. Its altitude range is up to at least 800 m (2,600 ft), and it is found higher than this on Java.
Species Status
B. javensis is generally considered to be an uncommon bird but it has a very wide range and no particular threats have been recognised, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern". It is probably under-recorded in most parts of its range.
Photo By Lars Petersson
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Nightjars and Relatives Family
Frogmouths Genus
Lesser Frogmouths Species
Javan Frogmouth