13

Barking Owl

(Ninox connivens)
: "Winking Owl", "Screaming Woman"

Aboriginal name(s): "woorop", "koordemool", "woolbogle" (WA); "gooragang"; Race "connivens": "guliman" [gamilaraay]
Size: 39-44 cm; wing span 85-120 cm
Weight: 380-960 g

Similar species

Description

Classification

Distribution

Sightings

Photos

Breeding

Nest

Eggs

Behaviour

Food

Call/s

Physical description

Click here for physical description of this species Click here for a physical description

Barking Owls are medium-sized owls. The exact colour pattern of their plumage depends on race. Race connivens is dark-brown with white, while race "peninsularis" is rufous and white. All Barking Owls have an inconspicuous facial pattern, with a lot of grey on the face and front. The front is mostly grey, with some brown (see above) streaking). The crown and back are darker brown. Their eyes are large and yellow. The bill is light-grey. The legs are covered by feathers; the feet are yellow. The front of race "peninsularis" is more rufous-brown than that of race "connivens". Male Barking Owls are larger than females. Juvenile Barking Owls have a partial white collar around the front of the neck at the height of the throat.

Twitcher's tip

They are distinguished from Southern Boobooks by their larger size, lighter front and smaller head compared to the size of the body.

Taxonomy, classification

See Barking Owl at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org .

The global distribution of the Barking Owl is available HERE .

Both races of Barking Owls found in Australia are endemic, together populating a significant fraction of the continent. Nominate race "connivens" is found South of Cape York peninsula, all across QLD (except the south-western corner of the state) and NSW and VIC, up to the border with SA. They are also found in the south-western corner of WA. Elsewhere, i.e. in an area encompassed by the catchments of the Gascoyne and Fitzroy Rivers in WA, in the Kimberley and along the tropical North of the NT and Cape York peninsula, race "peninsularis" is found.

Barking Owls are usually found in various types of forest (dense to open). Within forests they often stay near River Red Gums along water courses.

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Race "connivens"

A family of Barking Owls, race "connivens", was observed by us in the Pilliga scrub, North-East of Kenebri, NSW, in December 2011, at the time when their young had just fledged. Since they are part of a monitoring program, any attempt to approach them should be coordinated in advance with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and/or the National Parks and Wildlife Service. J. Wilson's assistance with these observations is most gratefully acknowledged.

In October 2015 a male Barking Owl's, race "connivens", calls marking its territory were recorded by us in the Pilliga scrub.

Previously, we had only seen a brief glimpse of two Barking Owls, race "connivens", at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, in late May 2009. The birds were not identified visually, but by their calls while flying overhead shortly after nightfall.

M. Windeyer reports spotting a Barking Owl, race "connivens", on the Castlereagh River, Gilgandra, NSW, in November 2016.

M. Eaton found a pair of Barking Owls, race "connivens", at Bunyaville Conservation Park, Brisbane, QLD, in May 2020.

Click here for sighting information Race "peninsularis"

B. Hensen reports spotting Barking Owls, race "peninsularis", at Rapid Creek, NT, in July 2013.

J. Greaves reports spotting a Barking Owl, race "peninsularis", at the Broome Bird Observatory, Broome, WA, in April 2015.

H. Mouritsen reports spotting Barking Owls, race "peninsularis", in various locations in and around Darwin, NT, in October 2015.

P. Brown found Barking Owls, race "peninsularis", at Manton Dam, 50 km south of Darwin, NT, in March 2020.

Photos

Race "connivens"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a large adult male Barking Owl resting (photo courtesy of C. Charles)
[Chatswood, NSW, September 2007]

Lateral view of a male Barking Owl; identification of the genders was made by the birds' behaviour - the male is less attached to the nesting hollow and the chick and is therefore more easily spooked; this bird was hustled at the time of the observations by a bunch of Noisy Friarbirds
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2011]

The same male Barking Owl as shown above, now with its head turned back
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2011]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female Barking Owl; note how Barking Owls have a very inconspicuous fringe around their head to help them focus on sounds made by their prey; instead they have very prominent eyes, which may suggest predominantly visual target acquisition
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2011]

Here the same female Barking Owl, now with its head turned back; this shot shows most clearly the raptor's beak - also very prominent are the powerful talons, the bird's most powerful weapon
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2011]

Dorsal view of the same female Barking Owl as above...
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2011]

Female Barking Owl looking at the observer
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2011]

PAIR

Frontal view of a pair of Barking Owls - note that in this species males are bigger than females, so the male is on the left
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bunyaville Conservation Park, Brisbane, QLD, May 2020]

Frontal view of a pair of Barking Owls (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bunyaville Conservation Park, Brisbane, QLD, May 2020]

Near-frontal view of a pair of Barking Owls; now the male has also opened its eyes (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bunyaville Conservation Park, Brisbane, QLD, May 2020]

Sex unknown

Dorsal view of a Barking Owl roosting in a casuarina (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Castlereagh River, Gilgandra, NSW, November 2016]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of a fledgling Barking Owl on its first day out of the nest
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2011]

The same fledgling Barking Owl as above, now with its head turned
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2011]

Fledgling Barking Owl here seen more laterally...
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2011]

... and now seen looking slightly upwards
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2011]

Frontal view of a Barking Owl in captivity; one can see clearly the bird's underwing pattern (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Race "peninsularis"

ADULT

MALE

Close-up lateral view of a large adult male Barking Owl (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Broome Bird Observatory, Broome, WA, April 2015]

Lateral view of a large adult male Barking Owl (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Broome Bird Observatory, Broome, WA, April 2015]

Dorsal view of a large adult male Barking Owl (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Broome Bird Observatory, Broome, WA, April 2015]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an adult Barking Owl (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rapid Creek, NT, July 2013]

The same Barking Owl as shown above, now seen preening (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rapid Creek, NT, July 2013]

Lateral view of a Barking Owl looking at the observer (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Manton Dam, 50 km S of Darwin, NT, March 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Barking Owl looking at the observer (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Manton Dam, 50 km S of Darwin, NT, March 2020]

Dorsal view of a Barking Owl looking at the ground (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Manton Dam, 50 km S of Darwin, NT, March 2020]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Oct Eggs: 2 - 3 Incubation period: 36 days Fledging age: 35 - 42 days

The breeding season depends on geographical latitude. It is from July to September in the North and August to October in the South.

Nest building: Male (female) Incubation: Female Dependent care: Female

While the male may prepare the nest, the female has all the subsequent duties like incubation and caring for the chicks. While the female incubates the eggs and tends to the needs of the hatchlings, the male feeds her. During daytime he will then roost somewhere close to the nest, possibly with prey in one of its talons. As the chicks grow up, about 2 weeks prior to hatching, the female leaves the nest and stays close to the nesting hollow. If there are chicks, both parents will be seen near the nesting hollow, being attentive. The loss of their brood can be diagnosed by a decline in their interest in the nesting hollow.

The single chick of the pair described here hatched in early December 2011, 2 weeks and 4 days after the female had emerged and just after a major rain event. The parents are one of only 2 pairs (out of 28 monitored) known to have successfully bred that year. Many pairs lost their chicks, most likely to goannas.

Nest
"bungobittah", "malunna" = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Tree hollow Material: No lining Height above ground: 4 - 20? m

If no suitable trees are found, Barking Owls may also use rock crevices.

Entrance to the nesting hollow from which the chick shown above had emerged; the tree in this case is a River Red Gum
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2011]

Eggs
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 48 x 38 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

The family of birds shown in photos above is one out of 28 nesting pairs that are being monitored in a joint program by the NSW DPI and NPWS.

Within their territory each pair has various favourite perches, roosts and a small number of potential nesting hollows.

Food, Diet

Adults: Birds, small animals Dependents: Pieces of adults' prey Water intake: None

Like other species of owls, Barking Owls are carnivores. They prey on a mix of small mammals (e.g. gliders), bats (such as microbats) and other birds, up to their own size (e.g. Galahs), which they pick off their roosts while asleep at night.

They take their liquids in the form of blood of their prey.

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

barkowl_20151003.m4a	connivens (NW NSW)	Territorial calls (male)	© MD
barkowl_20151003_2.mp3	connivens (NW NSW)	Territorial calls male (perch1, flight, perch2)	© MD
barkowl_20151003_3.m4a	connivens (NW NSW)	Territorial calls male (long sequence)	© MD

More Barking Owl sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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