The Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus) has a body length of 34 to 58 cm and a wingspan from 74 to 120 cm, making it a medium-sized raptor. The Southern Boobook is often referred to as a 'Mopoke' owl which is named after its call, as at night they make a distinctive 'boo-book' or 'mo-poke' sounding hoot. At night they hunt for insects such as beetles, caterpillars and moths, but also won’t give up an opportunity to feed on smaller animals like mice. These Tasmanian owls are more heavily spotted with white on their chest but have dark brown feathers on their back. They have a disc shaped face that is a lighter brown with large yellow eyes, that help them see at night. The Southern Boobook is the smallest owl in Australia and is also the most common species of owl, as it can be found in every state Southern Boobooks can be found in a wide range of habitats, including dense forest and open desert. The Southern Boobook ( Ninox novaeseelandiae), also known as the Tasmanian spotted owl is found throughout Tasmania, across most of mainland Australia, New Zealand and a few other neighbouring Islands such as Timor. Tasmanian masked owls are larger than masked owls that are found on the mainland of Australia. Tasmanian Masked Owls are endangered due to threats that include clearing of habitat & nesting trees and competition with other native species for food. Tasmanian Masked Owls pair for life and will nest in the hollows of old-growth trees. These owls are nocturnal, so they hunt at night for small mammals such as rabbits, possums and smaller birds, and are rarely seen or observed. Females are much darker in colour and larger than the males, ranging from 43 to 57 centimetres in length, compared with the males’ 35 to 42 centimetres. Their upper chest is whitish in colour and is speckled. They have white heart-shaped faces and their feathers on their back are a combination of browns and greys. They can weigh up to 1.26 kg and have a wingspan of up to 1.3m. Tasmanian Masked Owls ( Tyto novaehollandiae castanops) are a subspecies of Masked Owl and are found in eucalypt forests and woodlands within Tasmania. Fun Fact:īaby wedge-tailed eagles are actually called eaglets and a female eagle will hatch two eggs each time she nests. Juveniles have a golden blond nape (back of the neck), which gets darker as they get older. It has the potential to appear very long. Wedge-tailed eagles are identified by their tail that is long, dark, and pointed, and the legs are feathered all the way down to the feet. This species of eagle also mates for life and equally shares the responsibility of caring for their chicks and looking after the nest. In the wild this species can live up to 20 to 25 years old but are classified as mature once they reach the age of 6. You can tell how old a wedge-tail eagle is from the colour of its feathers, light brown feathers indicate it is a young chick whereas eagles that are darker and almost black in appearance are much older. They are classified as their own subspecies of wedge-tail eagles as they have been isolated from the mainland populations for over 10,000 years. These birds can weigh up to 5.5 kg and have a wing span of up to 2.2 m. Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagles ( Aquila audax fleayi) are the largest bird of prey found in Australia with female eagles growing larger than their male counterparts. Tawny Frogmouths are often mistaken for Owls, but they are not, and thus they are not a Raptor even though they may share some similarities. The upper beak of raptors has a 'hook' at the front that is designed for puncturing and tearing prey. Talons, beaks, and wing spans are frequently used to identify these birds. As the top predator in the avian food chain, they prey on a wide variety of animals, including other birds, small mammals and marsupials, large reptiles, fish, and so on. Eagles, hawks, vultures, ospreys, buzzards, and falcons are all members of this family, which are known as raptors. Birds of prey are the daytime predators that swoop down and attack with their claws. What is a Bird of Prey?īirds of prey are an animal-eating raptor that is distinguished by its hooked bill and sharp claws. Read on to discover the list of beautiful raptors that call Tasmania home. However, several of these birds of prey are critically endangered, despite being protected by endangerment laws. These predators are important as they stabilise populations, reduce introduced pest numbers and promote a healthy bush ecosystem. You can find 13 native species of birds of prey in Tasmania, which include the wedge-tailed eagle, the Tasmanian masked owl and the Southern Boobook. Tasmania is home to 383 species of birds, and most of these are widespread and common. Written for Bonorong by Pink Lemonade Social
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