INDIAN PEAFOWL

Photographed at Leichhardt Dam, near Mount Isa, Queensland October 2015

(see 263)               INDIAN PEAFOWL             Pavo cristatus

Nepal     (1),        Australia      (569)

Also known as Blue Peafowl and Common Peafowl; commonly the male is called Peacock and hen called Peahen. Range: it is native to south-east Asia but there are now small feral populations in many countries around the world where it has been introduced; in Australia small populations around settlements. It is the National bird of India. Found mainly on the ground in open forests or on cultivated ground. Male 2-2.3 m, including train; female c. 1 m.

MASKED OWL

Photographed near Atherton, Queensland October 2015

726              MASKED OWL            Tyto novaehollandiae

Australia            (568)

Found in forest; open woodlands, farmlands with large trees, e.g. river red gums, adjacent cleared country; partly forested coastal plains in Vic.; timbered watercourses, paperbark, woodlands, caves. 33-35 cm. Female larger. Range: coastal mainland Aust., widespread but very sparse. Race: melvillensis more common on Bathurst Island, Melville Island (NT); Race: castanets in Tasmania, fairly common and widespread. Sedentary.

Photographed in Tasmania, May 2022