Description
Like all frogmouths, this 23 centimetres (9.1 in) long species has a wide and hooked bill with slit-like nostrils and the large head has the eyes facing forward to provide a wide field of binocular vision. Within the genus it has a somewhat small wing and is distinguished by the wing coverts ending in veltety black spots tipped in white. The male is grey brown with fine barring and a spotted crown. Some males are browner and look more similar to females. The female is more rufous or chestnut brown. Indian specimens have black spots on the crown but Sri Lankan populations have no such markings. Formerly considered monotypic, the Western Ghats population have been named as B. m. roonwali. This population has the males with a brownish-gray wing mirror and yellowish spots on the underside (gray or white in the nominate Sri Lankan form). Females have a bright reddish-brown wing mirror and are unspotted below.
Read more about this topic: Sri Lanka Frogmouth
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