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Barking OwlAlternative name: "Winking Owl" Size: 35-45 cm |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Barking Owls populate a significant fraction of the Australian continent. Race "connivens" is found south of Cape York peninsula all across QLD (except the south-western corner of the state) and NSW and VIC, up to the border with SA. They are also found in the south-western corner of WA. Elsewhere, i.e. in an area encompassed by the catchments of the Gascoyne and Fitzroy Rivers in WA, in the Kimberleys and along the tropical north of the NT and Cape York peninsula, race "peninsularis" is found.
Barking Owls are usually found in various types of forest (dense to open). Within forests they often stay near River Red Gums along water courses.
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Sightings |
We have seen a brief glimpse of two Barking Owls 20 km east of Narrabri in late May 2009. The birds were not identified visually, but by their calls while flying overhead shortly after nightfall. There was no chance to obtain a photo.
A family of Barking Owls was observed by us in the Pilliga scrub, north-east of Kenebri, NSW, in December 2011, at the time when their young had just fledged. Since they are part of a monitoring program, any attempt to approach them should be coordinated in advance with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and/or National Park Service. J. Wilson's assistance with these observations is most gratefully acknowledged.
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Photos |
Lateral view of a male Barking Owl; identification of the
genders was made by the birds' behaviour - the male is less
attached to the nesting hollow and the chick and is therefore
more easily spooked; this bird was hustled at the time of the
observations by a bunch of Noisy Friarbirds
The same bird as shown above, now with its head turned back
Near-frontal view of a female Barking Owl; note how Barking Owls
have a very inconspicuous fringe around their head to help them
focus on sounds made by their prey; instead they have very prominent
eyes, which may suggest predominantly visual target acquisition
Here the same bird, now with its head turned back; this shot
shows most clearly the raptor's beak - also very prominent are the
powerful talons, the bird's most powerful weapon
Dorsal view of the same female as above...
... now looking at the observer
Near-frontal view of a fledgling Barking Owl chick on its first day
out of the nest
The same chick as above, now with its head turned
Here seen more laterally...
... and now seen looking slightly upwards
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Jul - Oct | Eggs: 2 - 3 | Incubation period: 36 days | Fledging age: 35 - 42 days |
The breeding season depends on geographical latitude. It is from July to September in the north and August to October in the south.
While the male may prepare the nest, the female has all the subsequent duties like incubation and caring for the chicks. As the chicks grow up, about 2 weeks prior to hatching, the female leaves the nest and stays close to the nesting hollow. If there are chicks, both parents will be seen near the nesting hollow, being attentive. The loss of their brood can be diagnosed by a decline in their interest in the nesting hollow.
The single chick of the pair described here hatched in early December 2011, 2 weeks and 4 days after the female had emerged and just after a major rain event. The parents are one of only 2 pairs (out of 28 monitored) known to have successfully bred that year. Many pairs lost their chicks, most likely to goannas.
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Nest |
| Type: Tree hollow | Material: No lining | Height above ground: 4 - 20? m |
If no suitable trees are found, Barking Owls may also use rock crevices.
Entrance to the nesting hollow from which the chick shown above
had emerged; the tree in this case is a River Red Gum
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Eggs |
| Size: 48 x 38 mm | Colour: White | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Solitary/pair |
The family of birds shown in photos above is one out of 28 nesting pairs that are being monitored in a joint program by the NSW DPI and NPWS.
Within their territory each pair has various favourite perches, roosts and a small number of potential nesting hollows. While the female incubates the eggs and tends to the needs of the hatchlings, the male feeds her. During daytime he will then roost somewhere close to the nest, possibly with prey in one of its talons. More NESTING behaviour is described above.
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Food |
Like other members of the owl family, Barn Owls are carnivores. They prey on a mix of small mammals (e.g. gliders), bats (such as microbats) and other birds, up to their own size (e.g. Galahs), which they pick off their roosts while asleep at night.
