Monday, May 9, 2016

RUFOUS OWL

Photographed in Darwin Botanic Gardens, Darwin May 2016
773           RUFOUS OWL             Ninox rufa

Australia            (617)

Found mostly in lowland (but also some highland) rainforest; patches of monsoon forest; vine scrub, gallery forest along creeks, swamp-woodland, mangroves, eucalyptus woodlands adjacent to above habitats. 45-55 cm, male larger. Range: broken distribution in suitable habitat from Prince Regent River in nw. Kimberley (WA) to Top End (NT); and from Cape York Pen. (Q), s to near Byfield inane to Atherton Tableland-upper Burdekin R. and Blackdown Tableland NP, sw of Dingo. Dark race , queenslandica, occurs in ne Q, s of Cooktown. Rare, Sedentary.