The Australian masked owl, 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.
Region
Australasia
Typical Environment
Occurs across non-desert Australia, including Tasmania, and extends to southern New Guinea. Favors forested landscapes with nearby open areas for hunting, especially eucalypt forests, woodland edges, and riparian corridors. It also uses mangroves, coastal heaths, and farmlands that retain scattered large trees. Day roosts are in dense foliage, caves, or large hollows, and it avoids arid interior deserts.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Australian masked owl is one of the largest barn owls, with females substantially heavier than males. It nests in large tree hollows and is very sensitive to the loss of old-growth trees. Some regional subspecies, notably the Tasmanian masked owl, are threatened, even though the species as a whole is not at immediate global risk. Its flight is exceptionally silent, and it helps control rodent populations, including introduced rats and rabbits.
Masked owl landing.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
silent flier with deep, buoyant wingbeats; hunts low over ground and along edges
Social Behavior
Typically forms long-term monogamous pairs occupying stable territories. Nests in large tree hollows, caves, or occasionally buildings, with the female incubating while the male supplies prey. Pairs often reuse traditional nest and roost sites for many years.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are dominated by a piercing, drawn-out screech and harsh rasping calls. Also gives hisses, snores, and chattering contact calls, especially near nests at night.
Plumage
Upperparts are dark chocolate-brown to sooty with fine buff speckling; underparts range from pale buff to rich rufous with dark flecking. The facial disc is large, heart-shaped, and pale, bordered by a darker rim; legs are heavily feathered.
Diet
Primarily preys on small to medium mammals such as rodents, rabbits, and small marsupials, and will also take birds, bats, reptiles, and large insects. Hunts from perches or by coursing along habitat edges, locating prey by sound. Prey is swallowed whole or dismembered, and indigestible material is egested as pellets.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, open pasture adjoining woodland, riparian strips, and mangroves. Frequently uses fencelines, tree lines, and road verges as hunting corridors at night.
