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13

Australian Masked Owl

(Tyto novaehollandiae)
Alternate name(s): "Cave Owl", "Chestnut-faced Owl", "Mouse Owl"
Aboriginal name(s): Race "novaehollandiae": "bina" (WA)

Size: 33-41 cm (male), 39-55 cm (female); wing span up to 1.28 m
Weight: 420-800 g (male), 550-1260 (female)

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Australian Masked Owl at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "novaehollandiae"

ADULT

MALE

The bird shown here, photographed in July 2022, was found to be smaller than its partner and should therefore be a male.

Frontal view of a male Australian Masked Owl (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2022]

Frontal view of a male Australian Masked Owl looking downwards (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2022]

Frontal view of a male Australian Masked Owl looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2022]

Near-frontal view of a male Australian Masked Owl; note the typical hunched stance (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2022]

Near-frontal view of a male Australian Masked Owl looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2022]

Near-lateral view of a male Australian Masked Owl; note the typical hunched stance (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2022]

FEMALE

The bird shown here, photographed in July 2022, was found to be larger than its partner and should therefore be a female.

Frontal view of a resting female Australian Masked Owl (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2022]

Frontal view of a resting female Australian Masked Owl looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2022]

Lateral view of a female Australian Masked Owl looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2022]

Lateral view of a female Australian Masked Owl looking up into the tree crown (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2022]

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of an Australian Masked Owl (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2023]

Frontal view of a resting Australian Masked Owl (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2023]

Close-up near-frontal view of an Australian Masked Owl looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2023]

Close-up near-lateral view of an Australian Masked Owl looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2023]

Near-lateral view of an Australian Masked Owl looking backwards (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, August 2022]

Lateral view of an Australian Masked Owl (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, August 2022]

Near-dorsal view of an Australian Masked Owl (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, August 2022]

Dorsal view of a resting Australian Masked Owl (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, July 2023]

Dorsal view of an Australian Masked Owl with drooping wings (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, August 2022]

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.

maskowl_me_20200804.m4a novaehollandiae
(SE QLD)
Contact calls (male) © ME
maskowl_me_20230228.mp3 novaehollandiae
(SE QLD)
Chattering calls (courting male) © ME
maskowl_me_20230228_2.mp3 novaehollandiae
(SE QLD)
Chattering calls (courting male) + screeching call (female response) © ME
maskowl_me_20230228_3.mp3 novaehollandiae
(SE QLD)
Chattering calls (courting male) (+ Plumed Whistling-Duck) © ME

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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