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Southern BoobookAlternative names: "Boobook Owl", "Cuckoo Owl", "Mopoke*" Size: 25-35 cm |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Southern Boobooks are nocturnal predators that 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 Kimberleys (basically the western half of WA to the south of the Kimberleys) and around Lake Eyre 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.
Southern Boobooks are usually found in forest, open woodland and lower scrub.
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Sightings |
We first saw a specimen of race "boobook" in 2005, at the farm where we lived at the time, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW. Southern Boobooks were identified by their characteristic call again in September of 2006, 25 km south of Narrabri.
Heard, but not seen, regularly during the summer months of 2007/2008 20 km east of Narrabri. After a few quiet winter months, they started issuing their calls again in August 2008. Again not heard or seen for several months; they reappeared in February/March 2009. In 2010 heard and seen again starting in August.
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Photos |
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a look here.
The true colours of Southern Boobooks are best shown in photos taken during daylight hours. These are presented here first, followed by exposures taken with a flash.
Frontal view of a Southern Boobook studying the intruder
It was clearly a bit tired...
Lateral view of the same bird as shown above
Close-up portrait of a Southern Boobook
Frontal view of a Southern Boobook
Here seen looking sideways
Lateral view of a bird trying to hide in a Wilga tree
This shot shows the bird's back and its rufous-brown "socks"
This bird was scanning the sky above from the stay of a power pole
Here the first pair of Southern Boobooks spotted by us;
the bird on the left issued purring, high-pitched and long-stretched
calls, one of which was answered by the one on the right with a
low, rumbling monotonous double hoot
"socks"
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Solitary/pair |
The pair shown above returned the next night, when they were seen hunting moths in our eucalypt trees. Their visits and previously unseen activity coincided with the first full moon of spring.
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Food |
Like other members of the owl family, Southern Boobooks are carnivores. They prey on large insects and small mammals and birds.
