Photo: Richard Fisher / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Greater Sooty Owl
Tyto tenebricosa
Greater Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) — Owls of Australia & Oceania.
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The Greater Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) is a member of the Tytonidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 661 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 tenebricosa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 661 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Tytonidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Greater Sooty Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Greater Sooty Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Greater Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) belongs to the Tytonidae family of the order Strigiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU New Guinea (except sc) and e Australia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 661 g, with a wing length of about 25.7 cm and a tail of around 12.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Greater Sooty Owl?
The Greater Sooty Owl is a large bird that weighs around 661 g.
Where does the Greater Sooty Owl live?
The Greater Sooty Owl is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU New Guinea (except sc) and e Australia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Greater Sooty Owl belong to?
The Greater Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) belongs to the Tytonidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Greater Sooty Owl eat?
The Greater Sooty Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Greater Sooty Owl migrate?
The Greater Sooty Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Greater Sooty 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 Greater Sooty Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Greater Sooty 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 Greater Sooty Owl's range?
The Greater Sooty Owl has a mapped global range of about 1.1 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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