Australian Boobook

1. Dark facial “glasses” around bright yellow eyes

2. Distinctive two-note “boo-book” call, with the second note lower in pitch

3. Brown upperparts with white spots and pale, streaked underparts

These owls are agile nocturnal hunters, feeding mainly on insects such as moths, beetles, and spiders, but also taking small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Boobooks breed from July to February, with peak activity in September to November. Nests are usually in tree hollows lined with wood shavings or leaves. The female lays 2–3 white eggs and incubates them alone for about 3–31 days, while the male brings her food. Both parents feed the chicks, which stay in the nest for about 42 days before fledging. Family groups may stay together for several months after fledging as the young learn to hunt.

Australian Boobooks are found in almost any habitat with trees, including eucalypt forests, woodlands, mallee, mulga, farmland, leafy suburbs, and along tree-lined creeks. They are generally absent from dense rainforest except in parts of north Queensland. During the day, they roost quietly in tree hollows, crevices, or dense foliage, often in family groups. At night, listen for their unmistakable call and scan trees with a torch for their reflective eyes.