
Owl Calls – Greater Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa)
The Greater Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) is a medium to large owl found in the south-eastern forests of Australia and also throughout much of the island of New Guinea. Typical of the Tyto genus of owls (which includes the true barn owls, grass owls and masked owls) Greater Sooty Owls have heart-shaped facial discs with dark eyes.
Greater Sooty Owls favour tall, wet eucalypt forests and rely on the hollows of older trees for nesting and roosting. This species is strictly nocturnal and spends the daytime hiding in a tree hollow or dense foliage,. They will also roost in caves or under a rocky overhang. As a result of the clearing of old-growth forests, Greater Sooty Owl populations have been fragmented and reduced. They are now listed as ‘vulnerable‘ in New South Wales, ‘threatened’ in Victoria and ‘rare’ in Queensland.

Greater Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa)
Photo Credit: Imogen / Adobe Stock
They also make a harsh scraping call, not unlike a Barn Owl. Another commonly heard call is a loud wavering, trill. While near the nest, softer chirruping calls can sometimes be heard.
Listen to Greater Sooty Owl Calls

Other Night Sounds
Other species you might hear at night in the Australian bush:
Mammals
- Devil, Tasmanian
- Flying Foxes
- Glider, Squirrel
- Glider, Sugar
- Glider, Yellow-bellied
- Kangaroo
- Koala
- Possum, Common Brushtail
- Possum, Common Ringtail
- Wombat
Birds

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