Least Boobook
Ninox sumbaensis
Least Boobook (Ninox sumbaensis) — Owls of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Least Boobook (Ninox sumbaensis) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 90 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Ninox
- Species sumbaensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 90 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Least Boobook is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Least Boobook is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Least Boobook (Ninox sumbaensis) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Sumba (wc Lesser Sundas).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 90 g, with a wing length of about 18.9 cm and a tail of around 10 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2,933 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Least Boobook?
The Least Boobook is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 90 g.
Where does the Least Boobook live?
The Least Boobook is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Sumba (wc Lesser Sundas), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Least Boobook belong to?
The Least Boobook (Ninox sumbaensis) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Least Boobook eat?
The Least Boobook is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Least Boobook migrate?
The Least Boobook is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Least Boobook endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Least Boobook make?
1 real field recording of the Least Boobook — 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 Least Boobook's range?
The Least Boobook has a mapped global range of about 2,933 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.