Tasmanian boobook

Tasmanian boobook
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Strigiformes
Family:	Strigidae
Genus:	Ninox
Species:	N. leucopsis
Binomial name
Ninox leucopsis (Gould, 1838)

The Tasmanian boobook (Ninox leucopsis), also known as the Tasmanian spotted owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is native to Tasmania.

Formerly considered conspecific with the morepork (N. novaeseelandiae), phylogenetic studies have affirmed its status as a distinct species by analyzing genetic and morphologic characteristics.[2][3] It was reclassified as distinct by the International Ornithological Congress in 2022.[4]

It is widespread in Tasmania and on King Island and other islands of Bass Strait.[5] It has been recorded in southern Victoria, once from New South Wales,[6] and once from Lord Howe Island.[7] It predominantly occurs in eucalypt forests.[8]

It is carnivorous, and a nest predator.[9]

The Tasmanian boobook is sexually dimorphic, with males typically being smaller than females.[10]

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Tasmanian boobook Ninox leucopsis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T62023823A95185989. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
2. Gwee, Chyi Yin; Christidis, Les; Eaton, James A.; Norman, Janette A.; Trainor, Colin R.; Verbelen, Philippe; Rheindt, Frank E. (2017). "Bioacoustic and multi-locus DNA data of Ninox owls support high incidence of extinction and recolonisation on small, low-lying islands across Wallacea". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 109: 246–258. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.024. ISSN 1055-7903.
3. Michael Wink; Petra Heidrich; Hedi Sauer-Gürth; Abdel-Aziz Elsayed & Javier Gonzalez (2008). "Molecular phylogeny and systematics of owls (Strigiformes)". In König, Claus & Weick, Friedhelm (eds.). Owls of the World (2nd ed.). A&C Black. pp. 42–63. ISBN 9781408108840.
4. "Owls – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 2022-08-24.
5. Higgins 1999, p. 855.
6. Higgins 1999, p. 872.
7. Tsang, Leah; Carlile, Nicholas; O’Dwyer, Terry; Eldridge, Mark; Frankham, Greta; Bower, Hank (2022). "A recent specimen of a Tasmanian Boobook Ninox leucopsis recovered on Lord Howe Island". Australian Field Ornithology. 39: 143–157. doi:10.20938/afo39143157.
8. Higgins 1999, p. 854.
9. Barwood, Donna; Smith, Sandra; Miller, Margaret; Boston, Julie; Masek, Martin; Devine, Amanda (April 2020). "Transformational Game Trial in Nutrition Education". Australian Journal of Teacher Education. 45 (4): 18–29. doi:10.14221/ajte.2020v45n4.2. ISSN 1835-517X.
10. Tsang et al 2022. sfn error: no target: CITEREFTsang_et_al2022 (help)

Sources

• Higgins, P.J. (1999). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 4: Parrots to Dollarbird. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-553071-3.