Photo: Lip Kee Yap from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous Owl
Ninox rufa
Rufous Owl (Ninox rufa) — Owls of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous Owl (Ninox rufa) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 932 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Ninox
- Species rufa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 932 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rufous Owl is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Rufous Owl (Ninox rufa) belongs to the Strigidae family of the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU New Guinea and w satellites, and n Australia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 932 g, with a wing length of about 32.7 cm and a tail of around 20 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 824,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous Owl?
The Rufous Owl is a very large bird that weighs around 932 g.
Where does the Rufous Owl live?
The Rufous Owl is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU New Guinea and w satellites, and n Australia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous Owl belong to?
The Rufous Owl (Ninox rufa) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Rufous Owl eat?
The Rufous Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Rufous Owl migrate?
The Rufous Owl is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Rufous Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rufous Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous Owl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous Owl's range?
The Rufous Owl has a mapped global range of about 824,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.