They are somewhat lethargic in their movements, and are the weakest fliers in the order. Their rounded wings are only of moderate length. Frogmouths range in length from 9 to 21 inches. Their soft silky plumage is marbled grey, patterned with cryptic streaks and barrings. The sexes are alike or nearly so.
Most species are dichromatic, meaning they have ruddy brown and grayish color phases.
Tawny frogmouths are found in the tropics in forested savannas and open woodlands of Australia and Tasmania. During the day frogmouths sleep perched lengthwise on a branch with their heads up and their eyes closed. Their color so matches the branch that they look like part of it and are almost impossible to see. These birds are active after dusk and before dawn. Their nocturnal habits and their relative scarcity make them so difficult to study that comparatively little is known of their behavior.