Barking Owl - Ninox connivens
Also known as Winking Owl
Calls - Ninox connivens
Description: 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.
Size: Length 35-45cm (14-18") Wingspan 85-100cm
(33.5-39.5")
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. On average, the male of any pair was 8% heavier than the female.
Habits: Generally nocturnal, but sometimes calls during the day, and on duller winter days may begin hunting before sunset. Barking Owls are usually found in pairs, and characteristically roost in isolated stands of trees in
open country, often faithful to same spot for months or years. They are attracted to water
and may bathe regularly early in the morning.
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.
Hunting & Food: 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.
Breeding: A late winter breeder with most eggs laid July to
September. Cape York and Arnhem Land birds may be a little earlier but there seems to be
no time difference between north Queensland and Victoria. 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 (98˝
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 (1.7-2") by 36-41mm (1.4-1.6"). 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.
Habitat: 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.
Distribution: Coastal and subcoastal districts almost right
around Australia but distribution is very uneven and broken. Barking Owls are generally
more common in northern Australia. They need big trees and are therefore absent from much
of central Australia and the Nullarbor Plain and also from Tasmania and the large offshore
islands. Barking Owls are also found in New Guinea and the Moluccas.
Distribution of Ninox connivens
Status: Generally not common.
Original Description: Latham, John. 1802. Supplementum indicis ornithologici sive systematis ornithologiae, p. xii.
Subspecies:
N. c. connivens,
N. c. assimilis,
N. c. peninsularis,
N. c. rufostrigata,
N. c. occidentalis References:
Page Information:
Page compiled by Deane P. Lewis.
OwlPages.com Owl Species ID: 240.030.000 - Page last updated 2007-04-17
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Typical Call, female
