Australian Masked-Owl
Tyto novaehollandiae
Large owl with prominent facial disc and very powerful legs. Nests in a variety of habitats; requires hollows of very large trees for nest sites, and these may be in both drier and wetter forest types. Variable in size and color, ranging from larger, browner birds in Tasmania through to smaller, paler birds in northwestern Australia. This species is generally larger, darker, larger-legged, and more heavily spotted than Barn Owl. Call includes a loud explosive hiss.
Identification
Brown feathers surround a white, heart-shaped mask. Their dorsal plumage is brown, aside from light gray spots on the upper back. Their front is white with brown spots. Their eye color varies from black to dark brown. The species have sexual dimorphism, females are darker shaded and larger than males.<p>Male masked owls' weights ranges from 420 to 800 g (0.93 to 1.76 lb), while females are typically much larger ranging from 545 to 1,260 g (1.202 to 2.778 lb). Length ranges between 330 to 410 mm (13 to 16 in) for males and 390 to 500 mm (15 to 20 in) for females. Wing span is up to 1,280 mm (50 in) for southern female masked owls. Masked owls follow the typical pattern of birds from the tropics being much smaller than birds from temperate regions. In this instance, Tasmanian masked owls are the largest and the largest of the entire barn-owl family. Among the species in the family, only the greater sooty owl is on average heavier than the Australian masked owl but the Tasmanian species is rather larger and heavier even than the greater sooty owl. The mean weight of the nominate subspecies was found to be 476 g (1.049 lb) in males and 630 g (1.39 lb) in females while in Tasmania, mean weighs for males were 632 g (1.393 lb) and for females were 845 g (1.863 lb).
Taxonomy
Described subspecies of Tyto novaehollandiae include:
- Scientific name
- Tyto novaehollandiae
- Authority
- (Stephens, 1826)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Tytonidae
- Genus
- Tyto
Range and habitat
The Australian masked owl inhabits timbered areas, often with a shrub understorey. In Australia they are seldom found more than 300 km inland. They roost and nest in large tree hollows near foraging areas. They are nocturnal and their prey includes rodents, small dasyurids, possums, bandicoots, rabbits, bats, birds, reptiles and insects. Foraging is primarily for terrestrial prey, however some prey is taken from the trees or in flight. The population of the Australian masked owl on the mainland is declining and several states have this owl on the Species Conservation Status list. They are territorial and may remain in the same area once they have established a breeding territory. A 2020 case study done using radio telemetry showed that the “home” range of these owls might be as large as 19–23 km2, but this data remains ambiguous due to the small sample size.The breeding population in Tasmania's Takayna rainforest is under threat from a proposal by the MMG Mining Company,68% of which is owned by China's Minmetals conglomerate to dump acidic mineral waste by flooding the forest with a dam to hold its tailings. As of February 2024, the plan is awaiting ministerial approval by Australia's Environmental Minister Tanya Plibersek.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
The population of the Australian masked owl on the mainland is declining and several states have placed this owl on the Species Conservation Status list.<p>In Victoria (Australia), the masked owl is a listed threatened bird, and an Action Statement has been prepared under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. In New South Wales, the masked owl is scheduled as Vulnerable under the Biodiversity Conservation Act (2016).[citation needed]
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Blue-faced Parrotfinch
Erythrura trichroa
Colorful small finch, usually found in grassy forest clearings or forest edge habitats, often in close association with bamboo. Favors foothills and montane areas throughout much of its range, but descends into coastal lowlands on small islands and in the far eastern end of its range, on Australia’s Cape York Peninsula. Bright green plumage, with an obvious blue face and red tail and rump. Juveniles lack the blue face and are slightly duskier below. Forages at all levels of forest, from the ground up into the canopy, often taking seeds from grasses and bamboo. Call very thin and high-pitched.
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