Rufous Owl in its natural habitat
Rare rarity

Rufous Owl

Ninox rufa

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StatusNative
RarityRare
Height52 cm
Image of Rufous Owl
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Did You Know?

3 Facts
1

"The Rufous Owl is part of a trio of large Australian hawk-owls, alongside the Powerful Owl and Southern Boobook, representing three size classes of related nocturnal predators."

Field Guide

Rufous Owl

4 sections

The Rufous Owl is Australia’s only exclusively tropical owl and one of the country’s largest nocturnal birds. This formidable predator is found in northern Australia, with a patchy distribution from the Kimberley across Arnhem Land to Cape York and eastern Queensland. Its rich reddish-brown plumage and powerful build make it a striking but elusive resident of tropical forests, where it hunts by night and roosts in dense foliage by day.

Distribution Map

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