Frogmouth

/ˈfrɔɡmaʊθ/ noun

Definition

A bird of the family Podargidae native to Australia and nearby regions, known for its extremely wide mouth used to catch insects.

Etymology

Compound of 'frog' + 'mouth', named for its resemblance to a frog's wide, gaping mouth. The bird's distinctive feature—a massive gape for catching flying insects—reminded early naturalists of an amphibian's mouth structure.

Kelly Says

Frogmouths are masters of camouflage, sitting perfectly still on branches where they look like broken wood—but that enormous mouth can open so wide it's almost the size of their entire head, making them perfectly adapted night hunters.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.