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Australian Boobook (Ninox boobook) Alternate name(s): "Boobook Owl", "Cuckoo Owl", "Spotted Owl" "Mopoke*" Aboriginal name(s): Race "boobook": "guurrguurr" [yuwaaliyaay]; "guhnggur", "gumgan"/"gumgum" [bundjalung]; "gugu" [ngadjon]; "boobook"; Race "ocellata": "gurrgumarlu" [ngarluma], "goorgoorda", "koorkoo", "koorkoda", "kookobort", "kookomit", "yartj" (WA); "mulara" Size: 27-36 cm; wing span: 60-85 cm Body mass: 145-370 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.23-0.32

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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 Australian Boobooks are small owls. The exact colour pattern of their plumage depends on race. Races "leucopsis" and "lurida" are the darkest, race "ocellata" has the lightest colouring, while nominate race boobook has intermediate colouring. The colouring ranges from dark-brown via rufous-brown to almost fawn tints with large white patches, especially on the belly and vent. All Australian Boobooks have a conspicuous facial mask, with dark grey-brown circles around both eyes. The irises are yellowish to greyish. The two dark circles are outlined by triangular-shaped lighter areas on both forehead and throat, leading to the overall impression of a figure-8 pattern on the face. The front is brown (see above), with white chevrons, the crown and back are darker brown with white specks. The undertail is greyish-brown with lighter barring. The bill is light-grey. The legs are covered by feathers; the feet are grey. Male Australian Boobooks of all races have paler colours than females. Twitcher's tip Australian Boobooks are distinguished from Barking Owls by their smaller size, darker front and bigger head compared to the size of the body.

Taxonomy, classification See Australian Boobook at Wikipedia .

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 Southern Boobook is available HERE . Southern Boobooks are found in Timor Leste, New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. Australian Boobooks are well-adapted to life in various habitats, including the semi-arid interior of the Australian continent. Consequently, they are found basically everywhere, including Tasmania. Only in the most arid region, North of the Nullarbor to South of the Kimberley (the major deserts in the eastern half of WA), parts of the Lake Eyre Basin and on the SA/QLD border, they are found only occasionally - likely after substantial rainfall, when there is sufficient prey for them to feed on. They do not venture into the Nullarbor. Race "boobook" is found in the eastern half of QLD, most of NSW (except the north-western corner) and all of VIC. In the rest of the continent, except the major deserts, race "ocellata" is found. Race "leucopsis" (which is also called the "Morepork") populates Tasmania and the islands along Bass Strait, whereas race "halmaturina" is found only on Kangaroo Island, SA, and the adjacent mainland. Race "lurida" is found only in a small coastal area around Cairns, QLD. Australian Boobooks have a preference for forest, open woodland and scrub, inland often near watercourses. Where to look? How to find this species? Australian Boobooks are a very vocal species. Around nightfall one can do a bit of spot-lighting by following their repetitive calls, that will usually be issued over extended periods of time, to find them marking their territories from elevated perches, often in River Red Gums near watercourses.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "boobook" We first saw an Australian Boobook, race "boobook", in 2005 where we lived at the time, 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW. They are regularly heard and seen there, and in other parts of the Pilliga scrub, since then. Australian Boobooks, race "boobook", are found by us regularly since the 2007/08 breeding season at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, NSW. C. Hayne reports that Australian Boobooks, race "boobook", are heard and seen regularly in the area of Moree, NSW. C. Charles reports observing a female Australian Boobook, race "boobook", at Bluegum Reserve in Chatswood, NSW, bringing up two chicks in 2008. A. Ross-Taylor reports hearing Australian Boobooks, race "boobook", calling at night at Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, in December 2013. R. Plumtree reports spotting an Australian Boobook, race "boobook", at Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, in July 2015. M. Eaton found an Australian Boobook, race "boobook", at Pullenvale, QLD, in October 2023. Race "halmaturina" J. Thurmer reports spotting an Australian Boobook, race "halmaturina"(?), in Adelaide, SA, in May 2006. Race "ocellata" P. Brown reports finding an Australian Boobook, race "ocellata", at the Goorrandalng Campground, Keep River NP, NT, in September 2020. C. Pears reports seeing an Australian Boobook, race "ocellata", at the Desert Park, Alice Springs, NT, in August 2016. Another was found at City Beach, Perth, WA, in November 2024.

Photos

Race "boobook"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Male Australian Boobooks are larger than females. In addition to that, they have paler colours (on the left), with females tending to be rich dark-brown.

(Near-)lateral/ventral view of a pair of Australian Boobooks - female at the front
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2025]

MALE

Partially obscured close-up frontal portrait of a male(?) Australian Boobook; note the prominent off-white "X"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Close-up frontal view of a male(?) Australian Boobook
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2010]

Frontal view of a male(?) Australian Boobook perched in a eucalypt, where it attracted a lot of unwanted attention
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

Close-up frontal view of a male(?) Australian Boobook looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2010]

Close-up lateral view of a male(?) Australian Boobook looking backwards
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2014]

Lateral/ventral view of a male(?) Australian Boobook looking down at the photographer
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, January 2016]

Lateral/ventral view of a male(?) Australian Boobook perched in a eucalypt
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, January 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a male Australian Boobook looking backwards - note the pale colours
[Brigalow Park NR, NSW, September 2012]

FEMALE

Close-up frontal view of a female Australian Boobook looking down at the observer - note the rich colours
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, October 2023]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a female Australian Boobook (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, October 2023]

Close-up near-frontal portrait of a female Australian Boobook (photo courtesy of C. Charles)
[Bluegum Reserve, Chatswood, NSW, December 2008]

Near-frontal view of a female Australian Boobook looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whites Hill Reserve, Camp Hill, Brisbane, QLD, May 2020]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a female Australian Boobook looking down at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, October 2023]

Lateral view of a female(?) Australian Boobook
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2014]

Close-up dorsal view of a female Australian Boobook looking backwards (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, October 2023]

Dorsal view of a female(?) Australian Boobook; note the rufous-brown "pantaloons"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Sex unknown

Close-up full-frontal portrait of an Australian Boobook; note the prominent off-white "X"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2025]

Close-up frontal portrait of an Australian Boobook
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2025]

Close-up frontal portrait of an Australian Boobook looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2025]

Close-up full-frontal view of an Australian Boobook
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2025]

Close-up frontal view of an Australian Boobook
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2025]

Close-up near-frontal view of an Australian Boobook studying the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2024]

Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of an Australian Boobook
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2025]

Close-up near-lateral portrait of an Australian Boobook looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2025]

Close-up lateral view of an Australian Boobook looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2025]

Close-up lateral view of an Australian Boobook
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2025]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of an Australian Boobook
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2025]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up near-frontal view of an Australian Boobook; this bird may still be young, especially because its landings were clumsy
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2016]

Race "halmaturina"(?)

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an Australian Boobook (photo courtesy of J. Thurmer)
[Adelaide, SA, May 2006]

Race "ocellata"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of an Australian Boobook (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Goorrandalng Campground, Keep River NP, NT, September 2020]

Lateral view of an Australian Boobook (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Goorrandalng Campground, Keep River NP, NT, September 2020]

Near-dorsal view of an Australian Boobook (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Desert Park, Alice Springs, NT, August 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Oct

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: ca. 34 days

Fledging age: ca. 35 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: ?

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: ?

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Tree hollow

Material: No lining

Height above ground: 1? - 20? m

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

Overview of an Australian Boobook in a spacious hollow that is likely its nest hollow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dayboro, QLD, November 2019]

Australian Boobook in a spacious hollow that is likely its nest hollow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dayboro, QLD, November 2019]

Eggs

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

Size: 43 x 35 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Tapered oval

The colour of eggs changes from initially white to stained brown over time.

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Australian Boobooks usually roost in tree hollows (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, Brisbane, QLD, August 2020]

Australian Boobook roosting very conveniently in a corner of a shed at a grain handling facility at the time of a mouse plague (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri, NSW, June 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a Southern Boobook - like other (diurnal and nocturnal) raptors, they have inner eyelids that can be closed (independently) to protect the eyes while still having (reduced) vision
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2014]

Food, Diet

Like other owls, Australian Boobooks are carnivores. They prey on large insects and small mammals and birds.

Near-frontal view of an Australian Boobook with its prey, a moth (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Goorrandalng Campground, Keep River NP, NT, September 2020]

Lateral view of an Australian Boobook with its prey, a moth (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Goorrandalng Campground, Keep River NP, NT, September 2020]

In June 2024, we observed an Australian Boobook flapping its wings (audibly!) while hanging upside down from the end of a flowering branch in a eucalypt, probably in the process of grabbing a moth feeding on the nectar.

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.

sthboob_20230721.mp3	boobook (NW NSW)	Territorial call	© MD
sthboob_20210907_2.m4a	boobook (NW NSW)	Territorial calls (pair Q&A)	© MD
sthboob_20210907_3.m4a	boobook (NW NSW)	Territorial calls (pair Q&A)	© MD
sthboob_20141106.m4a	boobook (NW NSW)	Territorial calls (5 min sequence)	© MD
sthboob_20151016_2.mp3	boobook (NW NSW)	Territorial calls (8:30 min sequence)	© MD
sthboob_20180921.m4a	boobook (NW NSW)	Territorial dispute? (frogs in foreground)	© MD
sthboob_20230811_2.mp3	boobook (NW NSW)	Grumbling calls (pair Q&A)	© MD
sthboob_20240103_2.m4a	boobook (NW NSW)	Grumbling + territorial calls	© MD
sthboob_20230811.mp3	boobook (NW NSW)	Grumbling + territorial calls (+ Sulphur-cr. Cockatoo)	© MD
sthboob_20211115.m4a	boobook (NW NSW)	Grumbling calls (+ Willie Wagtail)	© MD
sthboob_20180921_3.m4a	boobook (NW NSW)	Squawking calls (4 s, 14 s) (frogs in background)	© MD
sthboob_20250903.m4a	boobook (NW NSW)	"Yeehaar" (copulation call)	© MD
sthboob_20210907.m4a	boobook (NW NSW)	Mating calls?	© MD
sthboob_20240306.m4a	boobook (NW NSW)	"Yow" calls (juvenile?)	© MD
sthboob_cp_20241115.m4a	ocellata (SW WA)	Territorial calls	© CP

More Australian Boobook sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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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