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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Tytonidae
  4. ›
  5. Tyto
  6. ›
  7. Australian Masked Owl
Australian Masked Owl
Photo · (c) Ann Bentley, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Australian Masked Owl

Tyto novaehollandiae(Stephens, 1826)

Updated 11 June 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
STRIGIFORMES
Family
Tytonidae
Genus
Tyto

At a glance

The Australian Masked Owl is a large bird, about 33–50 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
33–50 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does an Australian Masked Owl look like?

The Australian Masked Owl is a large bird, about 33–50 cm long and weighing 395–1260 g.

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.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
33–50 cm
Weight
395–1260 g
Wingspan
95 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see an Australian Masked Owl?

The Australian Masked Owl is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

jimchurches · New South Wales, AU

Call

jimchurches · New South Wales, AU

Call

Thomas Mesaglio · New South Wales, AU

Call

Thomas Mesaglio · New South Wales, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does an Australian Masked Owl eat?

The Australian Masked Owl feeds on terrestrial vertebrates, usually foraging alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Australian Masked Owl live in Australia?

The Australian Masked Owl is native to Australia, recorded across 55 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSouth-central New Guinea and Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding

8 regions recorded