Australian Masked Owl
Sounds & Calls
Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae)
The Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) is a large species of Tyto (barn owl) found in Australia and southern New Guinea. It is significantly larger and heavier than the more familiar Eastern Barn Owl (Tyto javanica) and is most commonly found in tall open forest with large old-growth trees suitable for nesting and roosting.
Australian Masked Owls make a range of different vocalizations. The calls of this species include loud rasps and hisses which are quite similar to those of Tyto javanica but generally louder and lower-pitched. They also make a variety of chattering calls, rattles as well as squealing and shrieking notes.
Conservation Status: Australian Masked Owl populations in three states (Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria) have been listed as endangered. Habitat loss, particularly the degradation of old-growth forests, is the main threat to this species.
Listen to Australian Masked Owl Calls
The audio in the video below features interaction calls between at least two Australian Masked Owls (likely parent and immature) and was recorded in tall eucalypt forest near Loongana, Tasmania.
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Australian Bird Sounds
Other bird calls from the Australian bush:
- Bellbird, Crested
- Black Cockatoo, Red-tailed
- Black Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed
- Boobook, Australian
- Bowerbird, Golden
- Bowerbird, Satin
- Bowerbird, Spotted
- Budgerigar
- Butcherbird, Grey
- Butcherbird, Pied
- Catbird, Spotted
- Cassowary, Southern
- Chowchilla
- Cockatiel
- Cockatoo, Palm
- Cuckoo, Channel-billed
- Cuckoo, Fan-tailed
- Currawong, Black
- Currawong, Pied
- Drongo, Spangled
- Emu
- Fairywren, Superb
- Frogmouth, Marbled
- Frogmouth, Papuan
- Frogmouth, Tawny
- Fruit Dove, Wompoo
- Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked
- Kingfisher, Sacred
- Koel, Pacific
- Kookaburra, Blue-winged
- Kookaburra, Laughing
- Lyrebird, Superb
- Magpie, Australian
- Miner, Bell
- Nightjar, Large-tailed
- Nightjar, Spotted
- Oriole, Green
- Owl, Australian Masked
- Owl, Eastern Barn
- Owl, Powerful
- Owl, Barking
- Owl, Lesser Sooty
- Owl, Greater Sooty
- Owlet-nightjar, Australian
- Parrot, Eclectus
- Pitta, Noisy
- Rosella, Crimson
- Shrikethrush, Grey
- Songlark, Rufous
- Wagtail, Willie
- Whipbird, Eastern
- Whistler, Australian Golden
- Whistler, Rufous