Current view: Data table and detailed info
Taxonomic note
Ninox boobook, N. rotiensis, N. fusca and N. plesseni were previously lumped under N. boobook (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) but are split on the basis of genetic divergence and differences in vocalisations (Gwee et al. 2017). Ninox novaeseelandiae, N. leucopsis and N. boobook sensu lato (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as N. novaeseelandiae following Christidis and Boles (1994). Prior to that Ninox novaeseelandiae and N. boobook sensu lato had been split following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993). N. boobook sensu lato may form a group with N. rudolfi, N. leucopsis and N. novaeseelandiae, and all four have frequently been considered conspecific; separated at species level from N. novaeseelandiae by morphological and molecular differences. Subspecies lurida has been treated as a separate species (Dickinson and Remsen 2013, König and Weick 2008), on basis of “morphology and vocalisations” plus “very different habitat”, but vocal evidence weak and saturated plumage clearly linked to more humid habitat. No consensus on number of subspecies, much in need of revision, especially non-Australian forms. Kangaroo I (South Australia) population has been described as a subspecies (halmaturina), but seems not constantly separable from nearby mainland population of nominate; also, marmorata of SW and SC Australia regarded as synonymous with ocellata. Seven subspecies tentatively recognized.
Taxonomic source(s)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2023. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 8. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v8_Dec23.zip.
IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Red List history
| Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
low |
| Land-mass type |
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as widespread and generally common (del Hoyo et al. 1999). Based on the density estimated from a tracking study of four breeding birds over four years in Canberra (1.7 birds/km2; Olsen et al. 2011), N. b. boobook is estimated to number 100,000 (80,000-160,000) mature individuals and N. b. ocellata 265,000 mature individuals (220,000-440,000) (Loyn et al. 2021). The population sizes of the remaining subspecies have not been estimated.
Trend justification: BirdLife Australia (2015) reported that the Southern Boobook (including both N. b. boobook and N. b. ocellata) had declined throughout most of the 15-year period from 1999 to 2013. Despite high variability year to year, by 2013, boobooks had decreased to low levels, with average reporting rates of only between 1–3%. They were declining across all but one of the six regions they inhabit in Australia, with trends in the Eastern Mallee assessed as either stable or highly variable. Olsen and Trost (2015) found one breeding pair of N. b. boobook in an area near Canberra that had supported, on average, about nine breeding pairs since 1993. Reporting rates from Birdata (BirdLife Australia 2020) analysed for both subspecies and covering a 15-year period (three generations, 2003–2018) showed inconsistent trends: N. b. ocellata declined by 57% and 76% for 2 ha 20 min surveys and 500 m radius area searches, respectively; N. b. boobook declined by 17% and 54% for 2 ha 20 min surveys and 500 m radius area searches, respectively. Composite trend analysis for both subspecies and survey methods indicated a 64% decline over 15 years (three generations). Reporting rates were low (<6%) in all surveys, however, and these results need to be interpreted with caution (Loyn et al. 2021). The surveys used methods that were not targeted at detecting nocturnal species and many survey sites were located in urban and peri-urban locations where Southern Boobooks were likely to show a decreasing density as levels of urbanisation increase (Weaving et al. 2011). There are no data on trends for the remaining subspecies, however forest loss is ongoing throughout the global range (Global Forest Watch 2023 using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein) which may be causing declines through the loss of hollow-bearing trees. Overall, the population is suspected to be declining but the rate has not been quantified.
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Southern Boobook Ninox boobook. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/southern-boobook-ninox-boobook on 18/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 18/12/2024.
