Vocalisations of the Marbled Frogmouth I: Descriptions and an Analysis of Sex Differences

Abstract

The Marbled Frogmouth Podargus ocellatus is an elusive and rarely encountered species found in separate populations in north Queensland and in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Recent studies of the southern population have been largely based on detecting the presence of the bird by its vocal response to playback. At present very little is known of the vocal behaviour of the species. This paper described in detail the three most common vocalisations produced by birds in southern Queensland: the Toad,Gobble and Kerloo calls. Distinctive differences between the sexes were found for bothGobble and Kerloo calls.