Bird
Powerful Owl
Ninox strenuaThe Powerful Owl is Australia's largest owl, with yellow eyes and bold dark chevrons across a pale chest. It roosts in tall forest by day and hunts possums, gliders, flying foxes, and large birds after dark.
large forest owlarboreal mammal hunterhollow-tree nester
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyRingtail possums, gliders, parrots
Predators
- larger raptors
- goannas
ThreatsLoss of old hollow trees, forest fragmentation, vehicle strikes, power lines, and disturbance at nests and roosts
HabitatsMature eucalypt forest, wooded gullies, riparian woodland, forest edge, and well-treed urban parks
Life spanOften more than 15 years, with some wild owls living beyond two decades
Classification
- FamilyStrigidae
- SpeciesNinox strenua
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Keep well away from roosts and nest hollows, especially when young owls are present.
- What to notice
- A very large brown owl with deep yellow eyes and dark V-shaped chevrons across the chest.
- Support conservation
- Stay at least fifty meters from roosts, avoid playback and bright lights, and conceal nest locations.
Responsible observation
- Listen: A slow resonant double hoot carries far through forest at night.
- Roost: Scan beneath tall canopy from a distance without using bright light.
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Species set
Moonlight Marvels
Powerful Owl is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
—/7
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.