Australian Masked-Owl Tyto novaehollandiae

Large owl with prominent facial disc and very powerful legs. Nests in a variety of habitats; requires hollows of very large trees for nest sites, and these may be in both drier and wetter forest types. Variable in size and color, ranging from larger, browner birds in Tasmania through to smaller, paler birds in northwestern Australia. This species is generally larger, darker, larger-legged, and more heavily spotted than Barn Owl. Call includes a loud explosive hiss.