Ninox connivens
A medium-sized brown Owl with white spots on its wings, a strongly streaked breast and brilliant yellow eyes. They are usually seen roosting in open in deep shade. The forehead, crown, nape, and facial disc are brown, varying in shade from dark to light sandy. Some birds have thinly pencilled white eyebrows. The upper wings and back are brown with large white spots and the upper tail inconspicuously barred brown. The throat is brown, white streaked brown, or white. Throat feathers are erectile giving a bearded appearance in white-throated birds. The breast and belly are white, heavily streaked brown with feathering extending onto the pale yellow legs. Under the tail is broadly barred white and brown. Eyes are large and have a yellow iris. The bill is dark horn or blackish.
Not Threatened.
A medium-sized brown Owl with white spots on its wings, a strongly streaked breast and brilliant yellow eyes. They are usually seen roosting in open in deep shade. The forehead, crown, nape, and facial disc are brown, varying in shade from dark to light sandy. Some birds have thinly pencilled white eyebrows. The upper wings and back are brown with large white spots and the upper tail inconspicuously barred brown. The throat is brown, white streaked brown, or white. Throat feathers are erectile giving a bearded appearance in white-throated birds. The breast and belly are white, heavily streaked brown with feathering extending onto the pale yellow legs. Under the tail is broadly barred white and brown. Eyes are large and have a yellow iris. The bill is dark horn or blackish.
Generally nocturnal, but sometimes calls during the day, and on duller winter days may begin hunting before sunset. Voice: Extremely characteristic, loud and remarkably dog-like double bark, 'wuf wuf' or 'wuk wuk'. Barks are always preceded by a short, low groan but this is audible only at close quarters. Calls are usually given at dusk and dawn, often in yapping choruses between male and female which may go on for several minutes. They do not call for long periods through the night like the Boobook. The female's call is noticeably sharper and shorter than the male's and carries further. Females sometimes use a low, groaning hoot of almost cow-like quality to call to young. A dog-like snarling is used in aggression by both sexes near the nest. Barking Owls are also notorious for their "screaming woman" call - it is described as a scream of terrifying intensity which sounds remarkably lifelike. This is not a common call and more likely to be used outside the breeding season. Its significance is unknown.
Length 35-45cm Wingspan 85-100cm Weight 425-510g. There is very little difference in size between sexes. (König, Weick and Becking) Other studies conducted in the Pilliga Forest in N.S.W. have adult weights from 645 to 960g
Taxonomy:
- Falco connivens Latham, 1801, Sydney region, New South Wales. Affinities uncertain. Some authors consider species monotypic, but up to seven races accepted by others; review needed. Proposed race occidentalis (NW & NC Australia) has been synonymized with peninsularis; addenda (SW Australia) synonymous with nominate. Some authors have placed birds of NC Queensland in race enigma, but type specimen, apparently lost, reported to be either juvenile of present species or aberrant, large individual of N. boobook. Four subspecies currently recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * rufostrigata (G. R. Gray, 1860) - N Moluccas (Morotai, Halmahera, Bacan, Obi). * assimilis Salvadori & D’Albertis, 1875 - C & E New Guinea W to Merauke and R Sepik, including Manam I and Karkar I. * peninsularis Salvadori, 1876 - coastal and subcoastal NW, N & NE Australia S to R Endeavour in Queensland, and islands in SW Torres Strait. * connivens (Latham, 1801) - coastal and subcoastal SW Australia, southern gulfs, and E & SE Australia (S from foot of Cape York Peninsula).
Ideal habitat is open country with a choice of large trees for roosting and nesting. In southern districts, Barking Owls choose creeks and rivers, particularly with River Red Gums, isolated stands of trees and open woodland. In northern Australia they favour paperbark swamps as well as previous habitats. Although they are generally wary at their nest, they may become very accustomed to humans, nesting close to farm buildings and even in streets in towns. They have a distinct preference to be close to water.
Barking Owls are agile and aggressive hunters, taking a wide range of prey. They hunt earlier in the evening and later in the morning than any other Australian Owl, taking many types of birds, including House Sparrow, Magpie Lark, small pigeons, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Laughing and Blue-winged Kookaburra, Red-rumped Parrot, Tawny Frogmouth, Australian Magpie, White- winged Chough, White Cockatoo and several species of duck. In southern Australia the Rabbit is now the main prey, but gliders, small possums, bats and rodents are also taken. Like other Ninox Owls they take many insects, particularly outside the breeding season, beetles and crickets being most common. Most prey appears to be taken on the ground or when perched.
A late winter breeder with most eggs laid July to September. Pairs perch close together at the start of the season with bouts of animated calling. The male appears to choose the nest site but rarely visits after laying. The nest is a large hollow up to 30 metres (98½ feet) high, in the trunk or large limb of a tree. They will occasionally nest in deep forks of trees, rock crevices and rabbit burrows. The same site is often used for many years. The female occupies the hollow immediately before laying 2 or 3, occasionally 1, white, dull, almost spherical eggs 43-50mm by 36-41mm. They are laid at 2-3 day intervals and incubated by the female alone for approximately 36 days. The young have first and second downs of white and are fledged in about 35 days. All Ninox Owls leave the nest while still partly downy, but fledgling Barking Owls are downiest of all. Young roost near and remain with parents for several months.