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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 |
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Physical description |
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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.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Lesser
Sooty Owl at Wikipedia .
Click here for classification information
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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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
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The global distribution of the Lesser Sooty Owl is available
HERE
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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.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
M. Eaton spotted a Lesser Sooty Owl at Yungaburra, QLD, in August
2023.
The photos by C. Pears shown below are of birds in captivity, taken
at Eagles Heritage, Margaret River, WA.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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Lateral view of an adult Lesser Sooty Owl
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
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)
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
More Lesser Sooty Owl sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
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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.