Birds of Tasmania

Boobook Owl, Ninox novaehollandiae

The boobook owl is a nocturnal hunter. Its diet comprises small mammals, birds and invertebrates. Like all owls, it is superbly adapted for night-time hunting. Its soft feathers effectively eliminate the noise of its flapping wings, allowing it to swoop upon unsuspecting prey.

The boobook nests in the hollows of trees, where it lays two to three white eggs. It should always be remembered that dead trees are as important as live ones, as they are the home for a wide range of mammals and birds. Once cleared, it may take hundreds of years for a tree to form such hollows.

The boobook is also known as the "mopoke", due to its distinctive call which sounds like "mo-poke"