Marbled Frogmouth - profile

Scientific name: Podargus ocellatus 
 Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Description

The Marbled Frogmouth is a small to medium sized frogmouth with rich brown plumage delicately flecked and peppered with black and white. It has a long, graduated tail and prominent tuft of cream and chestnut banded plumes protruding above the bill. The species has a loud bubbling, gobbling territorial call ending with a bill clap and a softer “koo-loo” contact call. It can be distinguished from the more common and widespread Tawny Frogmouth by its longer tail, finely patterned plumage and distinctive call.

Location and habitat

Distribution
 Two widely separated races occur with one confined to Cape York Peninsula and other found between Gladstone in south-east Queensland and Lismore in north-east NSW. Its NSW distribution extends west to the upper Clarence River and it is generally rare.

• Prefers subtropical rainforest spending most time in deep, wet, sheltered gullies frequently containing stands of Bangalow Palms.
• Less frequently it occurs in higher elevation temperate rainforests and wet eucalypt forest with a well-developed rainforest understorey.

Regional information
This species is found in the following catchment management authority regions. Click on a region name to see more details about the distribution, vegetation types and habitat preference of the species in that region.

• Northern Rivers

Threats

• Clearing, fragmentation and isolation of rainforest and wet eucalypt forest from agricultural and forestry activities.
• Opening of the canopy and promotion of dense understorey growth caused by timber harvesting.
• Invasion of habitat by weeds following disturbance.
• Isolation of patches of habitat due to frequent burning of connecting forest.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Department of Environment and Conservation has identified 11 priority actions to help recover the Marbled Frogmouth in New South Wales.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

• Protect forest connecting areas of known habitat from frequent fire.
• Fence areas of known habitat to exclude stock.
• Assist with removal of weeds in areas of known and potential habitat.
• Protect known and potential habitat from clearing, fragmentation and isolation.
• Reconnect patches of known habitat with wide corridors including streamside areas.
• Report any records, particularly those based on calls, from outside the accepted range to the DEC.

References

• NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Upper North Coast of NSW: Fauna. NPWS, Coffs Harbour.
• Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. (2003) The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia 7th Edition. Menkhorst, P. (ed). HarperCollins.