ML616202835
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age and sex
- Adult, Unknown sex - 1
- Behaviors
- Flying
- Sounds
- Call; Flight call
- Playback
- Playback used
Observation details
First heard distant crackling in response to my playback (I play Masked-owl calls at possible Masked-owl locations when I go out spotlighting). I almost overlooked the call as it was so faint and distant. I played a few more calls to get confirmation of the record, and the crackling call from the owl gradually became louder and closer. By this point I was certain I had a masked-owl as it did a circle in flight of the nearby area while crackling. I saw the bird three times rather high up as it did territorial flights around the area continuously "crackling" the whole time. Though I didn't see the bird very well, I could tell it was paler morph more similar in appearance to an Eastern Barn Owl. Due to how high and fast the bird was flying around the area I didn't manage to get photos, but I did get clear recordings of the crackling which is a very distinct Australian Masked-owl call and not similar to any calls from Eastern Barn Owls. The bird never seemed to perch the entire time I observed it as it was doing large circles in flight around the area. Since it didn't have interest in perching anywhere for me to photograph after my playback, I decided to leave it be and not push the bird any further. I have attached 3 recordings of the bird calling in flight. The typical Australian Masked-owl crackle territorial flight call which at a distance can almost sound like an insect.
Technical information
- Recorder
- iPhone 8 Plus
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 4.74 MB