Australasian Masked Owl
Tyto novaehollandiae
The Australasian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) is a rare bay owls and barn owl found only in Australia, weighing about 632 g. The Australian masked owl, also the Australasian masked owl or simply the masked owl, especially in Australia, is a barn owl of Southern New Guinea and the non-desert areas of Australia.
About the Australasian Masked Owl
The Australian masked owl, also the Australasian masked owl or simply the masked owl, especially in Australia, is a barn owl of Southern New Guinea and the non-desert areas of Australia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Brown feathers surround a white, heart-shaped mask. Their dorsal plumage is brown, aside from light gray spots on the upper back. Their front is white with brown spots. Their eye color varies from black to dark brown. The species have sexual dimorphism, females are darker shaded and larger than males. Male masked owls' weights ranges from 420 to 800 g (0.93 to 1.76 lb), while females are typically much larger ranging from 545 to 1,260 g (1.202 to 2.778 lb). Length ranges between 330 to 410 mm (13 to 16 in) for males and 390 to 500 mm (15 to 20 in) for females.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Australasian Masked Owl can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Australasian Masked Owl?
- Brown feathers surround a white, heart-shaped mask. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Australasian Masked Owl?
- The Australasian Masked Owl is a large sized bird weighing about 632 g.
- Where can you see an Australasian Masked Owl?
- The Australasian Masked Owl is endemic to Australia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to an Australasian Masked Owl?
- The Australasian Masked Owl is most easily confused with the Sooty Owl, the Eastern Grass Owl and the African Grass Owl.
- Is the Australasian Masked Owl endangered?
- The Australasian Masked Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Australasian Masked Owl for real
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