Sooty Owl

The Sooty Owl , also known as the Greater Sooty Owl, is a medium to large owl found in south-eastern Australia, Montane rainforests of New Guinea and have been seen on Flinders Island in the Bass Strait. They have a finely white spotted head with scattered white spots on the wings. The females are lighter colored than the males. The females length is 37-43 cm and weighs 750-1000 gm. The male is smaller and length is 37-43 cm and weighs 500-700 gm. The wing length is 30-40 cm. The large dark eyes are set in a round large facial disk. The facial disk is dark gray silver or sooty black and has a heavy black edge. The upper part of the owl is black to dark gray and the under part is lighter. Their call is a piercing shriek which can last up to two seconds. The tail is short and the legs are feathered large black talons. They are nocturnal and hide in hollow tree trunks, caves and in tall trees with heavy foliage.

Picture of the Sooty Owl has been licensed under a GFDL
Original source: Nrg800
Author: Nrg800
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The Sooty Owl is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Lesser Sooty Owl in history – Couldnt find anything. The Anthropomorphisation of the Lesser Sooty Owl – While Owl from Winnie the Pooh was possibly the most famous of all the Anthropomorphised Owls (not the vile Disney version) I don’t think he was a Lesser Sooty. Neither was Hedwig who was white if memory serves. Then there was Ephraim Owl in the “Mole Family Christmas”. More

Sooty Owls are not listed as threatened on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. However, their conservation status varies from state to state within Australia. For example: * The Sooty Owl is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). Under this Act, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species has been prepared. More

Their dropping-bomb call of the Lesser Sooty Owl is a regular night-time sound at Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge Distribution and Habitat: * The Lesser Sooty Owl is endemic to the Wet Tropics region. More

* Do Sooty Owls mate for life? * What rhymes with sooty? * Where can you get sooty dvds? * What is the Difference between sooty and non sooty flame? » More ADVERTISEMENT Mentioned in * Barn Owls (Tytonidae) (zoology) * Lesser Sooty-owl * Curramore Sanctuary * Greater Sooty Owl More

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Lesser Sooty Owls have very short tails. Their eyes are very large with a black Iris. The beak is pale horn. Toes are pale grey with black talons. Sexes look similar but the female is usually slightly larger. Size 31-38cm. Voice:They are rarely seen but their piercing "bomb-whistle" call sometimes announces their presence. Breeding:The female Lesser Sooty Owl generally lays 2 eggs and does not leave the nest during the incubation period of about 42 days. More

The Greater Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) is a medium to large owl found in south-eastern Australia, Montane rainforests of New Guinea and have been seen on Flinders Island in the Bass Strait. They have a finely white spotted head with scattered white spots on the wings. The females are lighter colored than the males. The females length is 37-43 cm and weighs 750-1000 gm. The male is smaller and length is 37-43 cm and weighs 500-700 gm. The wing length is 30-40 cm. More

female sooty owls engage in prolonged duets of trilling calls. Male Australian masked owls and eastern grass owls perform a prolonged circling and chattering or trilling flight, respectively. Male common barn owls screech incessantly and perform a hovering flight near the nest, and pursue the female about the site with chattering calls. Males of the well-known species also bring food to the female, which begs like a juvenile. More

These smaller cousins to the Sooty Owl of the south inhabit the north Queensland rainforests. They are sometimes called the Silver Owl. Description: A small to medium, sooty black Owl with silvery white underparts. They have many similarities to the Sooty Owl but are lighter in colour and noticeably smaller. The upperparts are sooty black or grey-brown with large numbers of fine silvery white spots on the head and wings. More

A Sooty Owl's Bill is horn coloured and feathered almost to the tip. Toes are dark grey and the large talons black. Sexes are similar in plumage and Females are usually slightly larger than males. They are distinguished from lesser Sooty Owls by much larger size and darker plumage, sparser white spots on upperparts and darker underparts which have white spots on a dark background where the lesser Sooty Owl has dark chevrons on a pale background. More

Lesser Sooty Owl (Tyto multipunctata)Considered by many to be one of the prettiest representatives of genus Tyto, the Lesser Sooty Owl inhabits the tropical mountain rainforests of north eastern Queensland. The Lesser Sooty Owl stands marginally taller than a Barn Owl, but is much darker, with enormous dark eyes, stocky, muscular legs and large, powerful feet. This small but formidable predator has the largest eyes of any Tyto owl. More

developments on the Sooty Owl outside conservation reserves and State forests. High Encourage CMAs to invest in actions that actively manage and/or conserve large forest owl habitat as part of their Catchment Action Plans. Medium Promote awareness of the research needs of the Sooty Owl among the scientific and academic community. Medium Current information on owl and habitat identification must be maintained on the threatened species website. More

priority actions to help recover the Sooty Owl in New South Wales. What needs to be done to recover this species? - * Retain and protect stands of rainforest and moist forest, especially those with hollow-bearing trees. * Retain hollow-bearing trees as well as large, mature trees that will provide hollows in the future. * Limit the use of pesticides used in suitable native habitat. More

Victoria, the Greater Sooty Owl is listed as vulnerable. References - 1. ^ Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria 2. ^ Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria 3. ^ Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (2007). Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria - 2007. East Melbourne, Victoria: Department of Sustainability and Environment, 15. ISBN 978-1-74208-039-0. More

Order : Strigiformes
Family : Tytonidae
Genus : Tyto
Species : tenebricosa
Authority : (Gould, 1845)