What is a southern boobook owl?
The southern boobook is Australia's smallest and most common owl. It is known for its two-note call, which sounds like boo-book or mo-poke, and is often called the mopoke.
The southern boobook is found throughout mainland Australia, Tasmania and nearby islands, living in forests, woodlands, farmland and suburban areas.
It grows to about 30 centimetres long and has brown feathers with white spots, large yellow-green eyes and a dark facial disk.
Night hunters
Boobooks hunt at night, catching insects, small birds and mice. They often hunt near streetlights, where insects gather.
During the day, they roost in dense foliage or tree hollows. Small birds may mob them if they discover their roosting spot.
The call of the boobook is a familiar sound in Australian nights. In Aboriginal stories, the boobook often appears as an important spiritual figure. The Tasmanian form is sometimes considered a separate species.
Boobooks nest in tree hollows, laying two or three white eggs. Both parents help feed the chicks, which leave the nest after about five weeks. Because they rely on hollows, the loss of old trees can affect local populations, and nest boxes are sometimes used to support them.