- Ninox strenua
Identification
60–66 cm; this is the largest Ninox owl. Large golden-yellow eyes, grey brown V barring, dull yellow feet. It has a dark grey brown facial mask.
The female is smaller.
Juveniles have white heads and underparts and shorter tails.
Distribution
Eastern Australia (south-eastern Queensland to Victoria and south-eastern South Australia)
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species. [1]
Habitat
Mountain and coastal forests, gullies, forest margins, woodlands including sparse hilly woodlands, scrub, plantations and urban and rural parks and gardens.
Behaviour
Breeding
Breeding takes place from July to September, the male building the nest, lining a tree hollow with leaf litter and debris. The male feeds the female while she incubates the 1 or 2 white eggs.
Young birds are dependant on the adults for several months after fledging and may remain within their parents' territory for over a year.
Diet
It is a carnivore, eating mainly medium to large tree-dwelling mammals. It will also take roosting birds and sometimes small ground-dwelling mammals such as rabbits or small marsupials. It forages mainly in trees, swooping down on prey and taking prey with its feet.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Wikipedia
- Usability.com
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Powerful Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Powerful_Owl
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
