Southern Boobook

New Zealand morepork ( Ninox novaeseelandiae )

The New Zealand morepork ( Ninox novaeseelandiae ) is the smallest and most common species of owl of the Australian region. After her call her name in English also Morepork.

Features

The 28 to 36 cm long New Zealand morepork is colored dark brown at the top. The reddish- brown underside has white polka dots and ribbons. The large eyes are colored yellow. Its deep two-syllable call >> buh - buk << reminiscent of a cuckoo.

Occurrence

The distribution area of the New Zealand Kuckuckskauzes includes all of Australia, New Zealand, Timor and southern New Guinea. It inhabits a variety of habitats, such as tropical forests, scattered stands of trees, deserts, scrubland and settlements. A living on the Lord Howe Island subspecies, the Lord Howe morepork, the snares by rats and competition with introduced Owls fell victim and is now extinct.

Behavior

The New Zealand morepork lives in pairs, but individually resting in dense foliage.

The diet consists of insects such as beetles and moths, as well as small birds, rodents and lizards. The nocturnal bird goes mainly in the dark or dusk in search of food. Clear skies of New Zealand morepork comes sometimes during the day out of hiding. He can be bullied by songbirds when they discover him.

Reproduction

In the breeding season, from September to February, the female incubates in a tree hollow two to four eggs and is fed by the male during this time with food. Both parents care for the young birds birds that leave the nest after five to six weeks.