Frogmouths are a fascinating group of birds. They are odd-looking, but their large eyes give them an undeniable appeal. These nocturnal birds are generally uncommon, and are next to impossible to spot as they roost in daytime. These factors make frogmouths highly desirable for birders, myself included. I don’t often see them, and when I do, it’s always at night when photographing them is challenging. But, as fate would have it, I recently stumbled upon a Blyth’s Frogmouth, in the daytime.

Encounter with a Blyth’s Frogmouth 

I enjoy birding by myself occasionally*. There’s nothing quite like being enveloped by the sights and sounds of nature while birding at your own pace. Being alone, I don’t make much noise. Thus, I am much less likely to disturb the animals in their environment. This often leads me to see more bird species, and discover rarer ones, compared to when I’m birding in a group. And this was exactly what happened on one of my birding walks when I found a roosting Blyth’s Frogmouth.

*Needless to say, I take the necessary precautions and always use common sense. I only go birding alone in easily accessible places, and never go birding by myself in remote areas.

The Encounter

I was walking around enjoying the birds when I heard the distinctive but unmistakable sound of a Blyth’s Frogmouth. This came a mild shock, as it was well past 8 am, when these nocturnal birds were supposed to be fast asleep. Since it repeated its calls several times, I was able to follow the sound and locate the bird. 

Surprisingly, I found it perched in the open, right next to the jungle trail, at eye level. I must have passed right by it moments before, yet I didn’t see it at all. Its camouflage made it almost invisible in the dark forest understory. If not for its calls, I definitely would have missed it completely.

The bird didn’t seem bothered by my presence, and continued its rest. Its perch was clear of leaves, and for more than 15 minutes, the bird was lit up by the beautiful golden morning sunlight. At one point, the bird looked straight at me, probably wondering whether I was a threat or not. After taking enough photos, I decided to leave the bird alone to continue its daytime slumber. 

What an absolute thrill it was to have seen the Blyth’s Frogmouth. Not only did I spot it myself, but this was also my first ever frogmouth in the daytime! 

A bit about the Blyth’s Frogmouth

The Blyth’s Frogmouth (Batrachostomus affinis) was previously known as the Javan Frogmouth, but has since been split into its own species. Some older books still show this previous name. This species occurs in South-east Asia, From Indochina to Peninsula Malaysia and Borneo. It lives in lowland tropical rainforests, up to an altitude of 800m. Like other frogmouths, this species is exclusively nocturnal. This is the most commonly seen frogmouth in Peninsular Malaysia.

Description:

• Quite small; slightly smaller than the familiar Common Myna.
• Males have different plumage from females (sexual dichromatism)
• The males are greyish with small white and black marks scattered throughout its body, giving them a ‘messy’ look.

  

• The females, on the other hand, are a clean brown/rufous overall with a white ‘necklace’ and white wing markings.

  

Vocalisations:

• The females make a weird, laugh-like song that can sound especially creepy at night. I wonder whether the legend of the “pontianak” laugh comes from this bird?
• The males sound less eerie, making whistling or single note calls.

Other Frogmouths in Malaysia?

Peninsular Malaysia has three species, which are:

• Blyth’s Frogmouth. 
• Gould’s Frogmouth.
• Large Frogmouth.

In addition to the above, Malaysian Borneo has an additional three species (total six in Borneo):

• Bornean Frogmouth
• Sunda Frogmouth
• Dulit Frogmouth.

Conclusion

It was an amazing experience to have discovered a roosting Blyth’s Frogmouth on one of my birding walks. Not only was it close by, but it was also relatively unobstructed enabling me to have great views and excellent photographs of it. I sure hope to spot more frogmouths (day or night) in the future, as these birds are utterly fascinating and exceptionally photogenic.

Coincidentally, this is my 100th article/post on Birdwatching Asia. Here’s to many more in the future! 

References:

Puan, C.L., Davison, G. & Lim, K.C. (2020). Birds of Malaysia. Covering Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysian Borneo and Singapore. Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Robson, C. (2005). New Holland Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia (Concise Edition). New Holland Publishers, London, England.