


Australasian Grass-Owl
Tyto longimembris


Tyto longimembris
The Australasian Grass Owl (Tyto longimembris) is a medium-sized, slim owl with long, sparsely feathered legs and a heart-shaped facial disc. Unlike most owls that perch in trees, this species specializes in hunting close to the ground in open grassy habitats such as dense grasslands, marshes, and agricultural fields. It is mostly nocturnal and is more often heard than seen.
1. Long, slender legs that extend beyond the tail and dangle during flight
2. Heart-shaped facial disc with a longer-faced appearance than a Barn Owl
3. Slow, low flight pattern with flapping and gliding close to the ground, especially at dawn and dusk
Australasian Grass Owls are specialist hunters of small mammals, especially rodents like the long-haired rat and cane rat, but they also eat insects and small birds. They hunt by flying 4–5 meters above the ground, using their acute hearing to detect prey hidden in dense grass, then plunging head-first with talons extended. Breeding occurs mainly between March-June. Nests are built on the ground under dense tussocks or sedges, consisting of a scraped hollow or a flimsy platform of trampled stems, with several approach tunnels. Females lay 3–8 eggs and incubate them alone, while males bring food at night. Chicks are brooded for several weeks and fledge after about two months. Major threats include habitat loss from agriculture, drainage, and development, as well as the use of rodenticides and human disturbance
In Australia, the Australasian Grass Owl is found mainly along the floodplains of large rivers from Cape York to the Manning River in New South Wales, and in the grasslands of the Barkly Tableland and Channel Country in Western Australia. It prefers tall grasslands, swamps, and sometimes agricultural fields such as sugar cane, sorghum, and rice. During the day, it roosts in flattened vegetation within a network of grass tunnels. The species is most active at dawn and dusk, flying low over grassy areas in search of prey. Its primary call is a loud, hissing screech.
35 cm
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