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Reclusive and rarely seen owl of cane fields, meadows, and other areas with tall grassy cover.
VIC: Vulnerable
Sensitive species — location data may be restricted
At a glance
FamilyBarn-Owls
SizeMedium
RarityUncommon
HabitatTimbered edges, open forest, suburban gardens with mature trees, and lightly wooded scrub.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from June to January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Lim Ying Hien 林勇贤
Range map
Range map
215visible hotspots
1403visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Tan-brown overall with black, white, and orange mottling on the wings. Flies low over grassy areas, primarily during dawn and dusk, often with long legs dangling. Heart-shaped facial disk, very similar to Barn Owl and Masked Owls.
Behavior
Reclusive and rarely seen owl of cane fields, meadows, and other areas with tall grassy cover. Nests in dense fields; fluffy owlets often exposed during harvesting season in agricultural areas.
Gallery