How many tawny frogmouths can YOU see? Carefully camouflaged bird is the latest brain-teaser to set the internet alight

  • An image of a silvery grey tree stump has puzzled many people online
  • At first glance, it appears to show branches in the Australian bushland  
  • But on closer inspection, there's more to the image than meets the eye  

By ASHLEIGH DAVIS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

An image of an Australian bird species in the wild is the latest brain-teaser to divide the internet.

At first glance, the photograph appears to show a silvery grey-coloured tree stump with a birds nest made of twigs nestled crook of the branch at the front.

However, on closer inspection there appears to be more than just a tree stump featured in the image. 

At first glance, this photograph appears to show a silvery grey-coloured tree stump with a birds nest made of twigs nestled crook of the branch at the front

At first glance, this photograph appears to show a silvery grey-coloured tree stump with a birds nest made of twigs nestled crook of the branch at the front

There are actually birds sitting in the tree, completely camouflaged within their surroundings. 

The two birds are tawny frogmouths - sit-and-wait hunters related to the nightjar family, a group of small, secretive nocturnal birds that catch flying insects on the wing. 

According to the Australian Reptile Park, their silvery-grey plumage streaked with black and brown, mottled with flecks of rusty brown and white gives them the ability to blend in with their surroundings.

They can sit in full view on an old tree stump in broad daylight and be practically invisible. 

The birds will often sit in pairs with their heads pointing towards the sky to appear as if they are a dead tree.

Their cover is only blown if they try to fly away or warn off predators by opening their bright yellow mouths.  

Tawny frogmouths are native to Australia and found throughout the mainland and in Tasmania. 

However, on closer inspection there appears to be birds sitting in the tree, completely camouflaged within their surroundings

However, on closer inspection there appears to be birds sitting in the tree, completely camouflaged within their surroundings

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