Alice Springs Desert Park

ASDP Birds > Birds Index

Formerly and commonly known as the Southern Boobook, the Australian Boobook (Ninox boobook) is the smallest of the owls native to Australia. The name change to Australian Boobook is the official name designated by the International Ornithological Committee.1

The smallest and most common of the owls in Australia, the Australian Boobook are often observed perched on an open branch or tree-top, often emitting their distinctive ‘boo-book’ or ‘mo-poke’ call.

Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park
Southern Boobook Owl
Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park
Southern Boobook Owl
Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park
Southern Boobook Owl
Australian Bookbook / Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park

Their plumage is a dark chocolate-brown above and rufous-brown below, being heavily streaked and spotted with white. Their bill is grey with a darker tip, whilst their feet are grey or yellow in colour. The facial disc is a chocolate brown and the eyes are large and can be white to a light yellow. The juvenile Australian Boobooks are almost entirely buff-white below, with conspicuous dark brown facial discs.

They feed on insects, small mammals and feed mainly at night, but can sometimes be observed in the morning and late afternoon, especially on overcast days.

Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park
Southern Boobook Owl
Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park
Southern Boobook Owl
Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park
Southern Boobook Owl
Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park
Southern Boobook Owl
Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park
Southern Boobook Owl
Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park
Southern Boobook Owl

Australian Boobook / Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park

Images © Dorothy L / Images © Ausemade PL

More information under Birds > Raptors/Birds of Prey > Australian Boobook and
Alice Springs Fauna > Birds in Alice Spring > Southern Boobook.

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Strigiformes
  • Family: Strigidae
  • Genus: Ninox
  • Species: Ninox boobook
Southern Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park
Australian Boobook / Southern Boobook Owl
Australian Boobook Owl, Free-flying Birds Show, Alice Springs Desert Park

Images © Dorothy L

Footnote & References

  1. English Name Updates, IOC World Bird List – IOC Version 9.1 (Jan 20, 2019). https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/updates/english-names/
  2. Australian Boobook, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_boobook (last visited Sept. 11, 2021)

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