Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend is suspected to be declining, however the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The overall global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as uncommon to rare, although common on Tasmania (Morcombe 2000). The population size of subspecies T. n. castanops is estimated at c.850 mature individuals, and T. n. melvillensis at c.2,400 (Cisterne et al. 2021, Ryan et al. 2021). T. n. kimberli is estimated at c.3,000 mature individuals (Barden et al. 2021) and T. n. galei is thought to approach 1,000 mature individuals (Jackett and Garnett 2021).
Trend justification
The overall population trend has not been assessed directly, however subspecies castanops, kimberli and melvillensis are thought to be in decline (Barden et al. 2021, Cisterne et al. 2021, Ryan et al. 2021). Although the overall trend is unclear and it may be stable in some parts of the range, the threats are ongoing and the poorly known insular subspecies may also be under threat. The global population is therefore precautionarily suspected to be declining.
The species is endemic to Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea: T. n. castanops in Tasmania, T. n. galei in far north Queensland, T. n. kimberli in Kimberley and the Northern Territory, T. n. melvillensis in the Tiwi Islands, T. n. novaehollandiae in southern mainland Australia, and five extralimital subspecies on islands north of Australia.
The species is usually associated with tall open forest dominated by big trees suitable for nesting and roosting (Bruce and Marks 2020).
Fire, grazing pressure, rodenticides and predation by cats are ongoing threats (Barden et al. 2021, Cisterne et al. 2021, Ryan et al. 2021). Habitat loss as a result of commercial timber harvesting, residential development and tree felling for firewood also affect T. n. castanops (Cisterne et al. 2021).
Conservation Actions Underway
T. n. castanops and T. n. melvillensis are nationally listed as Endangered (Cisterne et al. 2021, Ryan et al. 2021), T. n. kimberli as Vulnerable (Barden et al. 2021) and T. n. galei as Near Threatened (Jackett and Garnett 2021). Parts of range are within protected areas.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Determine population size and trends of lesser known subspecies. Protect known nesting, roosting and priority foraging habitat from clearing (Cisterne et al. 2021). Landscape-scale control of cat populations (Barden et al. 2021, Jackett and Garnett 2021, Ryan et al. 2021).
Text account compilers
Vine, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Species factsheet: Australasian Masked-owl Tyto novaehollandiae. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/australasian-masked-owl-tyto-novaehollandiae on 06/01/2025.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2025) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 06/01/2025.