Habitat
Tropical rainforest, including mesophyll and notophyll vine forests. Often around stands of tall emergent eucalypt growing within the rainforests.
Eastern Queensland, from north of Cooktown, south to about Cairns.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2011).
Status LC
Habitat destruction for agriculture is the main threat. Estimated population is unknown (2010).
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Food
Mammals (mainly possums and gliders).
Voice
A weird, far-carrying, descending strident or mellow whistle, like the sound of a falling bomb, like that of the Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa), but higher pitched and softer. Also trills, chirrups and screams.
Lesser Sooty Owl (Tyto multipunctata) [XC604877]
by nick talbot from 218 Old Boonjie Road, Topaz, Tablelands Regional, Queensland, Australia (call)
Lesser Sooty Owl (Tyto multipunctata) [XC173101]
by Phil Gregory from Mt Lewis, Atherton Tableland, Qld, Australia (call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
February - July, but mostly March - May.
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Nest
In a hollow of a tree, mainly eucalypts, usually high up.
Eggs (Guide)
1, usually 2; pure white; spherical; about 41 - 42 x 36 - 39 mm.
Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 90 days.
Subspecies
Not recognized by BirdLife International. Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) and Lesser Sooty Owl (Tyto multipunctata) (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993, Christidis and Boles 1994) have been lumped into Tyto tenebricosa following Norman et al. (2002) and Christidis and Boles (2008).
Forms superspecies with Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa), and until 1981 treated as conspecific.
Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa).
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) which is larger, has less and finerwhite spotting on the wings and is darker below with white spots, but currently their range is distinct but new populations are being discovered.
Compare Images
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet