Papuan Frogmouth

Papuan Frogmouth

Podargus papuensis

Silhouette: Matt Wilkins · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Daintree National Park

In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%

792 Verified sightings at Daintree National Park From 2019 to 2026
1,109 In all 2 parks
October Best month
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted

About the Papuan Frogmouth

The Papuan frogmouth (Podargus papuensis) is a species of bird in the family Podargidae, found in the Aru Islands, New Guinea, and in Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. The species was originally described by zoologist Jean René Constant Quoy and naturalist Joseph Paul Gaimard in 1830.

The Papuan frogmouth is the largest of frogmouths in terms of length. Average sizes indicate that it only falls behind the Neotropical great potoo and oilbird (if the latter is a true member of the order) among the largest species in the order Caprimulgiformes. On average these birds are about 53 cm (21 in), with a range of 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 in). This species was found to average 414 g (14.6 oz) in males and 314 g (11.1 oz) in females, with a total range of 290 to 570 g (10 to 20 oz). The tawny frogmouth is smaller on average than this but is capable of reaching higher maximum weights. The Papuan frogmouth has a bulbous bill, red eye, cream eyebrow, long tail and dark wings. The male of the species is slightly larger, darker and marbled in appearance. The female is more rufous in... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Uncertain0:14

Papua New Guinea · 2022

© Sofia Medellín · XC740186 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call?0:16

Papua New Guinea · 2017

© Iain Woxvold · XC558615 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call0:38

Australia · 2018

© Marc Anderson · XC439114 · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~40%
2 Raja Ampat 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~20%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Bird Paradise 🇸🇬 Singapore In captivity
2 Rainforest Wild Asia 🇸🇬 Singapore In captivity
3 Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome 🇦🇺 Australia In captivity
4 Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas 🇦🇺 Australia In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Papuan Frogmouth in Daintree National Park?

Likely

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Papuan Frogmouth sighting in Daintree National Park on a given day, based on 792 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 24th most-seen of the 208 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Papuan Frogmouth in Daintree National Park?

October

In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Papuan Frogmouth in Daintree National Park on a given day, against about 10% in February and March, the lowest months. That is one of Daintree National Park's driest months, with about 50 mm of rain against 380 mm in January.

What time of day is best to see a Papuan Frogmouth?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Papuan Frogmouth sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Is Daintree National Park the best place to see a Papuan Frogmouth?

Yes

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Papuan Frogmouth sightings, Daintree National Park has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Raja Ampat (Indonesia, about 20%).

Where does the Papuan Frogmouth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Papuan Frogmouth is recorded against all the birds logged in Daintree National Park (792 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Daintree National Park