LESSER SOOTY OWL

(Tyto multipunctata)


Abundance: Uncommon. Breed in the Great Dividing Ranges, the wet, dense tropical montane rainforests of north-eastern Queensland, and just north of Townsville to about Cooktown, and in New Guinea.
Habitat: Closed and tall open forests, especially gullies. Active in canopy. Feed on small mammals.
Movement: Sedentary.
Description: Small. Robust; crouched posture. Large, black eyes; Have the biggest eyes of all the Tyto species. Disc whitish near border. Upper- parts coarsely and densely spotted. Breast washed dark grey. Underparts greyish-white, barred blackish-grey.
Size: Females 37cm. Males 33cm.
Voice: High-pitched.

A miniature version of the Sooty Owl that has evolved to live in rainforest habitat. In order to be able to survive in dense forests, the Lesser Sooty Owl has had to adapt. In contrast to the Sooty Owl, most of its prey lives on the ground, the very darkest part of this gloomy environment. The huge eyes are an obvious help but there is also the problem of the lack of low perches in the rainforest. The Lesser Sooty Owl has solved this by learning to cling to the vertical tree trunks like a yellow robin, enabling it to bring the eyes into play at any height.
David Hollands reported his experience of a Lesser Sooty Owl hunting successfully on a night of utter blackness while water was streaming noisily off the trees after a tropical downpour.
(Hollands, D., 1995. "Silent Hunters Of The Night". Nature Australia Spring 1995. pages 38 - 45).


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