Growth of a Captive Nestling Masked Owl 'Tyto novaehollandiae'

Abstract

Descriptions and photographs are provided of a captive dark-morph Masked Owl 'Tyto novaehollandiae novaehollandiae' chick at intervals from second (mesoptile) down to fledging, in order to supplement previous limited information on age-related plumage stages in this species. Most male Masked Owls on the Australian mainland are likely to require a size 12 rather than the officially recommended size 13 leg-band, and the stated nestling period (up to 10-12 weeks) of wild Masked Owls requires critical field investigation.