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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Strigidae
  4. ›
  5. Ninox
  6. ›
  7. Barking Owl
Barking Owl
Photo · Vicki Nunn

BirdUp · Species

Barking Owl

Ninox connivens(Latham, 1801)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
STRIGIFORMES
Family
Strigidae
Genus
Ninox

At a glance

The Barking Owl is a large bird, about 39–44 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
39–44 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Barking Owl look like?

The Barking Owl is a large bird, about 39–44 cm long and weighing 180–740 g.

The barking owl or barking boobook, also known as the winking owl, is a nocturnal bird species native to mainland Australia and parts of New Guinea and the Moluccas. They are a medium-sized brown owl and have a characteristic voice with calls ranging from a barking dog noise to an intense human-like howl.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
39–44 cm
Weight
180–740 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Barking Owl?

The Barking 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

Matthew Lincoln · New South Wales, AU

Call

Sofia Zvolanek · New South Wales, AU

Call

Sofia Zvolanek · New South Wales, AU

Call

J N. · Victoria, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Barking Owl eat?

The Barking Owl feeds on terrestrial invertebrates and terrestrial vertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Barking Owl live in Australia?

The Barking Owl is native to Australia, recorded across 63 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNorth Moluccas, east New Guinea and Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident

7 regions recorded