boobook

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boobook

bird

Also known as: Ninox novaeseelandiae, mopoke, morepork

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Also called:: morepork or mopoke

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boobook, (Ninox novaeseelandiae), small owl species classified with elf owls, hawk owls, and burrowing owls in the subfamily Surniinae. The boobook is common in various habitats throughout Australia, New Zealand, the Lesser Sunda Islands, and the islands of Timor and New Guinea. However, it is found most often in eucalyptus forests of those regions. The plumage of adult boobooks is mostly dark brown with streaks and mottles of white on the back and head. The owl’s underside is whiter with streaks of lighter brown. Adults grow to 25–33 cm (about 10–13 inches) tall. Boobooks are known for their distinctive call, ...(100 of 182 words)

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