Papuan boobook

The Papuan boobook, jungle boobook or jungle hawk owl, is a medium-sized, dark-colored owl. It has a dark gray-brown facial disk with lighter colored eyebrows, sooty or chocolate underparts, and mainly dark gray wings.

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Distribution

Region

New Guinea

Typical Environment

Occurs across mainland New Guinea in hill and lower montane forests, with local occurrence in lowland forest where tall trees persist. It favors primary and well-structured secondary forest, forest edges, and riparian corridors. The species often hunts along tracks, clearings, and forest margins where prey is easier to detect. It tolerates some habitat disturbance but relies on cavities in mature trees for nesting. Island outliers near New Guinea may host local populations where suitable forest remains.

Altitude Range

200–2600 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size28–35 cm

Wing Span60–75 cm

Male Weight0.23 kg

Female Weight0.27 kg

Life Expectancy12 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Also known as the jungle hawk-owl, the Papuan boobook belongs to the Australasian hawk-owl genus Ninox. It is a stealthy forest predator that hunts from low to mid-level perches and slips through dense foliage with remarkably silent flight. The name “boobook” echoes its resonant two-note call. It typically nests in natural tree cavities within mature forest.

Gallery

Papuan boobook pair

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with brief glides

Social Behavior

Usually encountered singly or in pairs, especially during the breeding season when pairs defend territories. Nests in natural tree hollows or cavities, often high in large forest trees. Likely monogamous, with both adults attending the nest and young. Daytime roosts are in dense foliage close to the trunk.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A deep, resonant two-note hoot reminiscent of “boo-book,” delivered in steady series at night. Also gives harsher barks and screeches when alarmed or during territory disputes. Calls carry well through forested valleys in the highlands.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Papuan eagle

The Papuan eagle is a large bird of prey. It is also known by several other names, including Papuan harpy eagle, New Guinea eagle, New Guinea harpy eagle, or kapul eagle, the latter name from the local name for a usually arboreal marsupial that the eagle is known to regularly hunt. This is an endemic species to New Guinea, and it can occasionally be found throughout the island. This is a forest-dwelling species, usually occurring in mature rainforest. The Papuan eagle is a fairly little-known species for a large eagle; however, it is known to prey on a wide range of prey, probably by and large mammals and birds from small to quite large sizes. Unique amongst eagles, the Papuan eagle is a surprisingly fast and agile terrestrial avian predator and is capable of chasing down prey on the forest floor. What little study has been conducted about its breeding habits suggests it nests in a large forest tree, perhaps every other year. The Papuan eagle is probably naturally scarce, but it is under the threat of habitat destruction by deforestation, as well as hunting. Due to its small and declining population, the species has been classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.

Papuan eclectus

The Papuan eclectus, red-sided eclectus, or New Guinea eclectus is a parrot species which is native to New Guinea. Larger than the Moluccan eclectus, the green plumage of the male only has a slight yellow tinge and the tail is tipped with a half-inch yellow band. The central tail feathers are green and lateral ones blue and green. It is widely distributed from Kai Islands and western islands of the West Papua province in the west, across the island of New Guinea to the Trobriands, D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Louisiade Archipelago, Bismarck Archipelago, and Solomon Islands to the east, and south to the northern Cape York Peninsula of Australia. It has also been introduced to the Goram Islands, Indonesia.

Papuan grassbird

The Papuan grassbird is a species of typical grassbird in the family Locustellidae. The species was once treated as several subspecies of the tawny grassbird, but the two do not interbreed where their ranges are sympatric. The species is endemic to New Guinea and its satellite islands. There are seven subspecies ranging across montane areas of New Guinea, New Britain and New Ireland. It is a fairly large typical grassbird, 20–23 cm (7.9–9.1 in) long and weighing 40 g (1.4 oz).

Papuan hawk-owl

The Papuan hawk owl, sometimes also Papuan boobook, is a medium-sized, sleek owl with a proportionately small head, long tail, and short, rounded wings. Its white facial disk is small and indistinct, with black streaks, and white eyebrows. It has buff-colored upperparts and barred black and brown underparts. Its eyes are bright yellow, and it has a gray to black bill. The male is larger than the female, which is unusual among owls.