Australian Masked Owl
Tyto novaehollandiae
Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderStrigiformes (Owls)
- FamilyTytonidae (Barn Owls)
- GenusTyto (Barn, Masked, Grass, and Sooty Owls)
- SpeciesTyto novaehollandiae (Australian Masked Owl)
About the Australian Masked Owl
The Australian masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae), 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. Described subspecies of Tyto novaehollandiae include:
T. n. calabyi I.J. Mason, 1983, (southern New Guinea) T. n. castanops (Gould, 1837), Tasmanian masked owl (Tasmania and introduced to Lord Howe Island) T. n. galei Mathews, 1914, (Cape York Peninsula) T. n. kimberli (Mathews, 1912), Northern masked owl (northern mainland Australia)
T. n. melvillensis Mathews, 1912, (Tiwi Islands) T. n. novaehollandiae (Stephens, 1826), (southern mainland Australia) T. n. troughtoni N.W. Cayley, 1931, cave-nesting masked owl (Nullarbor Plain, validity doubtful) 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... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Australian Masked Owl in Great Otway National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Great Otway National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Maria Island National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Australian Masked Owl in Great Otway National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Australian Masked Owl sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 19 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Australian Masked Owl in Great Otway National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Australian Masked Owl in Great Otway National Park in our monthly data.