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13

Lesser Sooty Owl (Tyto multipunctata) Size: ca. 33 cm (male), ca. 37 cm (female) Weight: 340-410 g (male), 500-600 g (female)

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Lesser Sooty Owls are sooty grey, with a prominent, heart-shaped facial mask. The face is light-grey, while the fringe of the facial mask is dark-grey. Both front and back are scalloped dark and light-grey, with the front being much lighter than the back. The upperwings are mostly dark-grey, with a multitude of light-grey spots. The short, sturdy legs are feathered light-grey, with faint mid-grey rings. The irises are black. The bill is light-grey, the talons are dark-grey. Lesser Sooty Owls are lighter grey overall and more obviously spotted than Greater Sooty Owls.

Taxonomy, classification See Lesser Sooty Owl at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Most authorities have now given the Lesser Sooty Owl full species status, separate from the Greater Sooty Owl ("Tyto tenebricosa").

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Lesser Sooty Owl is available HERE . Lesser Sooty Owls are endemic to north-eastern Australia. The range the Lesser Lesser Sooty Owl is limited to the coastal fringe and the tablelands around Cairns, in tropical northern QLD, from just to the North of the Burdekin River at Townsville to about Cooktown in the North. They also occur on Magnetic Island off Townsville, QLD. Lesser Sooty Owls live in tropical rainforest.

Sightings Click here for sighting information We have not seen Lesser Sooty Owls in the wild yet. The photos by C. Pears shown below are of birds in captivity, taken at Eagles Heritage, Margaret River, WA.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an adult Lesser Sooty Owl in captivity (photo courtesy of C. Pears)

Albinism

Lesser Sooty Owls can have albino offspring.

Lateral view of an albino Lesser Sooty Owl in captivity looking at the observer (photo courtesy of C. Pears)

Lateral view of an albino Lesser Sooty Owl in captivity (photo courtesy of C. Pears)

Dorsal view of an albino Lesser Sooty Owl in captivity (photo courtesy of C. Pears)

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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