Photo: Benjamint444 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Australian Masked Owl
Tyto novaehollandiae
Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) — Owls of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) is a member of the Tytonidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 632 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 Tytonidae Barn Owls
- Genus Tyto
- Species novaehollandiae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 632 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Tytonidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Birb mood:
the heart-faced ghost
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Australian Masked Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Australian Masked Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) is a member of the Tytonidae family, within the order Strigiformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU sc New Guinea and Australia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 632 g, with a wing length of about 30.1 cm and a tail of around 13 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 3.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Australian Masked Owl?
The Australian Masked Owl is a large bird that weighs around 632 g.
Where does the Australian Masked Owl live?
The Australian Masked Owl is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU sc New Guinea and Australia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Australian Masked Owl belong to?
The Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) belongs to the Tytonidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Australian Masked Owl eat?
The Australian Masked Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Australian Masked Owl migrate?
The Australian Masked Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Australian Masked 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 Australian Masked Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Australian Masked Owl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Australian Masked Owl's range?
The Australian Masked Owl has a mapped global range of about 3.2 million 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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