Leslie Massey
Australia is home to eleven species of owls, which collectively cover every state and territory. Owls can be found in a range of habitats, from wet rainforests to open woodlands, and snowy, mountainous regions to grasslands. In Western Australia, owls such as the Barn Owl and the Masked Owl are found in habitats ranging from desert to woodland. The Barking Owl, a sub-species of the Southern Boobook, is also found in the south-west region of the state. The Powerful Owl, Australia's largest owl species, is found in the Southern zones of the country, including Western Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of owl species in Australia | 11 |
| Largest owl species in Australia | Powerful Owl |
| Weight of Powerful Owl | Up to 2.2 kg |
| Height of Powerful Owl | 65 cm |
| Wingspan of Powerful Owl | 2 m |
| Smallest owl species in Australia | Southern Boobook |
| Height of Southern Boobook | 25 cm |
| Weight of Southern Boobook | 31 g |
| Length of Southern Boobook | 27-36 cm |
| Colour of Southern Boobook | Dark chocolate-brown and rufous-brown, with white spots |
| Eye colour of Southern Boobook | Yellowish |
| Habitat of Southern Boobook | Dense forest, open desert, woodlands, rural, heath, urban, gardens, playing fields, farms |
| Diet of Southern Boobook | Insects, small mammals, birds |
| Conservation status of Australian owls | "Not in danger" |
| Threat to Australian owls | Habitat loss |
| Regions of Australia where owls are found | Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, South-East Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Margaret River region |
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What You'll Learn
- The Powerful Owl is the largest owl species in Australia
- The Southern Boobook is the smallest and most widespread owl in Australia
- The Masked Owl is suited to deep forests in Western Australia
- The Barking Owl is a sub-species found across southern Australia
- The Rufous Owl is found in the Northern Territory
The Powerful Owl is the largest owl species in Australia
Australia is home to eleven owl species, and the Powerful Owl is the largest among them. It is endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia, mainly on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range, from southeastern Queensland to Victoria. The Powerful Owl usually inhabits the moist forests of eastern Australia, but it can also be found in wooded mountain gullies, forested ravines, wetter, heavily timbered subcoastal ranges, coastal forests and woodlands, and coastal scrub. They prefer wetter, more timbered areas such as sclerophyll forests.
The Powerful Owl is aptly named, with very powerful and heavy claws. It has a long tail and a small head, giving it a hawk-like appearance. The protruding bill and distinct brow ridges further enhance its hawk-like silhouette. The upper parts are dark grey-brown, mottled, and barred with whitish. The underparts are white with bold, grey-brown, V-shaped barring. The tail has six narrow white bars contrasting with grey-brown. This species has large yellow eyes, with greyish feathering down to the base of the toes, and feet of a dull yellow colour. The Powerful Owl is a relatively geographically restricted species, with no subspecies and no known geographic variation.
The Powerful Owl is a carnivore, eating mainly medium to large tree-dwelling mammals, particularly the Common Ringtail Possum and the Great Glider. It will also take roosting birds and sometimes small ground-dwelling mammals such as rabbits or small marsupials. Possums are a favourite meal, and they are often seen roosting during the day with remnants of prey caught the previous night. The Powerful Owl mates for life, and pairs defend an all-purpose territory year-round. The male prepares the nest, which is usually a vertical hollow in a large old tree, and provides the female and young with a constant supply of food during the early part of the nesting period.
The Powerful Owl is one of the few Australian owls with a standardized "whoo-hoo" call, most often heard during the winter months when breeding occurs. They are extremely territorial birds, with reports of males attacking passers-by if they get too close to nest sites. The Powerful Owl is vulnerable in Victoria, facing threats such as habitat loss and secondary poisoning from eating prey such as feral rabbits, cats, or foxes that have eaten bait.
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The Southern Boobook is the smallest and most widespread owl in Australia
Australia is home to eleven owl species, and the Southern Boobook is the smallest among them. It stands at 25 cm tall and weighs just 31 g. The Southern Boobook is also the most widespread owl in Australia, with four recognised subspecies covering mainland Australia. It is also found in Tasmania and on some coastal islands.
The Southern Boobook is a nocturnal species, often observed perched on an open branch or treetop, emitting a distinctive 'boo-book' call. Its diet consists of large insects, small mammals and birds. It is identified by its dark chocolate-brown plumage above and rufous-brown below, heavily streaked and spotted with white. The bill is grey with a darker tip, and the feet are grey or yellow. The eyes are large and yellowish.
The Southern Boobook's nest is usually a tree hollow, sparsely lined with wood shavings, leaves and small twigs. The female alone incubates the eggs, but both sexes feed the young. The breeding season is from September to February, mainly in October.
The Southern Boobook is a common species, listed as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This is due to its huge range and stable population, with no evidence of any significant decline. However, there has been a decline in their population on the Swan Coastal Plain north of Perth due to the ingestion of poisoned rodents.
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The Masked Owl is suited to deep forests in Western Australia
Australia is home to eleven owl species, which collectively cover every state and territory. The Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) is one such species, found in both Australia and New Guinea. The Australian masked owl is a Tasmanian subspecies, and is the largest Tyto owl in the world. It is often confused with the Eastern Barn Owl, but can be distinguished by its larger, more powerful legs and a broader, rounded facial disc.
The Australian masked owl is well-suited to deep forests in Western Australia. It inhabits timbered areas, often with a shrub understorey. In Australia, they are seldom found more than 300 km inland. They are territorial and may remain in the same area once they have established a breeding territory. They are nocturnal, and their prey includes rodents, small dasyurids, possums, bandicoots, rabbits, bats, birds, reptiles and insects. They rely on old, large trees with hollows for breeding, and their nests are dependent upon suitable large hollows or vertical holes within the trunk of mature or dead eucalypts.
The Masked Owl has a stocky, often crouched posture, strong heavy feet, and feathered legs. Its facial disk has a blackish-brown edge, with rufous or brown colouring around the eyes. Male masked owl weights range from 420 to 800 g, while females are typically much larger, ranging from 545 to 1,260 g. Length ranges between 330 to 410 mm for males and 390 to 500 mm for females. The wingspan is up to 1,280 mm for southern female masked owls.
The Masked Owl is a shy and elusive species. It is predominantly a terrestrial hunter, and its diet is influenced by habitat. For example, within forests, it mainly consists of small native mammals, Bush Rat, and Antechinus, to a lesser extent small gliders, Ring-Tailed Possums, birds, and beetles. The Masked Owl is facing threats from habitat loss, particularly the loss of both mature and dead trees that contain hollows. Fire prevention activities, such as accidental burning or 'tidying up' operations involving pushing over dead trees, severely degrade its habitat.
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The Barking Owl is a sub-species found across southern Australia
Australia is home to eleven owl species, which collectively cover every state and territory. One of these species is the Barking Owl, a sub-species found across southern Australia. The Barking Owl (Ninox connivens) has two recognised subspecies: Ninox connivens connivens, found in eastern Australia, southern Australia, and southwest Western Australia; and Ninox connivens peninsularis, found in the northern part of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and far north Queensland.
The Barking Owl is a medium-sized owl, 39-44 cm (15-17 in) long, with a wingspan of 85-120 cm (33-47 in). They weigh between 380 and 960 g (13-34 oz), with males being 8-10% heavier than females. They are brown with white spots on their wings and a vertically streaked chest, and have large eyes with a yellow iris, a discrete facial mask, and yellow skin on their feet. Their underparts are brownish-grey and coarsely spotted white, and their tail and flight feathers are strongly banded brown and white.
Barking Owls are found in open woodlands and forest edges, often near farmland and waterways or wetlands. They prefer habitats with large trees, particularly those with hollows used for nesting and by their prey. They are sedentary, remaining in the same territory year-round, and are usually found in habitats dominated by eucalyptus species, especially red gum. They hunt within a 1-2 km radius of their nest site, feeding on small to medium-sized mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.
The Barking Owl is listed as 'Vulnerable' under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and as 'Near Threatened' on the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. The species is declining, and threats to its survival include habitat loss, competition from feral honeybees, and secondary poisoning from agricultural chemicals and prey species. Conservation efforts focus on improving habitat quality, increasing population size and resilience, and long-term strategic planning.
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The Rufous Owl is found in the Northern Territory
The Rufous Owl (Ninox rufa), also known as the rufous boobook, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It was first described in 1846 by English ornithologist John Gould. The common name reflects the rufous-coloured feathers that these owls are covered with in adulthood.
Rufous Owls are found in the Northern Territory of Australia, as well as in Queensland, Western Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Guinea, and the Aru Islands. They have a patchy distribution across Northern Australia. They are rare to very uncommon depending on location. BirdLife International lists them as 'Least Concern', and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies them as a species of 'least concern'. Rufous Owls are large owls, ranging in weight from 700 to 1,700 grams, and they often grow to 46–57 cm in length, with a wingspan of 100 to 120 cm.
Rufous Owls are skilled and powerful hunters, feeding on a diverse diet of birds, insects, and small mammals such as flying foxes, rodents, and possums. They have been observed using various predation methods, including taking prey from perches, snatching from tree foliage while in flight, chasing in flight, and swooping from the air to catch prey from the ground or water. They are generally solitary and nocturnal, roosting during the day in thickly foliaged mature trees with a good view of their surroundings.
The Rufous Owl has a regular breeding season, with egg-laying occurring from June in the Northern Territory to September in northeast Queensland. Both sexes may aggressively defend their nests, which are typically large hollows in the trunks or limbs of big trees, located high off the ground.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, owls can be found in every state and territory in Australia, including Western Australia.
The Southern Boobook, also known as the Australian Boobook, is a common owl species found in Western Australia. Other species found in the region include the Barking Owl, the Powerful Owl, the Masked Owl, and the Barn Owl.
Owls in Western Australia typically feed on small to medium-sized mammals, birds, and insects. Possums are a favourite meal for some species.
Owls in Western Australia are often found in habitats with old-growth trees that have hollows for nesting and breeding. They can be found in a range of environments, including forests, woodlands, rural areas, and even urban settings.
