The Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) is a species of owl native to south-eastern and eastern Australia, the largest owl on that continent. It is found in coastal areas, the Great Dividing Range no more than 200 km inland.

Description

The Powerful Owl has large brown eyes, grey-brown V-barring on all features, large feathers and dull yellow feet. They are aptly named, with very powerful and heavy claws. Average length is 60 cm (24 in)with a wingspan of 140 cm (55 in)and weight of 1.5 kg (3.3 lb).

Distribution

Range is from Eungella in Queensland south to the central highlands of Victoria and west to Mt Burr in South Australia.

Mt Coot-tha, SE Queensland, Australia

Conservation Status

Powerful Owls are not listed as threatened on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. However, their conservation status varies from state to state within Australia. For example:

• The Powerful Owl is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). Under this Act, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species has been prepared.

Female and Fledgling, Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane

• On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, the Powerful Owl is listed as vulnerable.

Habitat

Habitat includes mountain and coastal forests, gullies, forest margins, woodlands including sparse hilly woodlands, scrub, plantations and urban and rural parks and gardens.

Reproduction

Usually found in breeding pairs in a large territory, it breeds from July to September in hollow tree trunks 8"?20 metres above the ground. The nesting material includes decaying debris and leaf litter. Eggs are oval and dull white. One to two and rarely three are laid per breeding season. It can be found in many places throughout Australia, mainly the coast of New South Wales and Victoria.

Foraging

Diet consists of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects.