Are barking owls barking mad I wonder?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339333)
Rockingham, Australia
February 4, 2019 7:52am CST
The Peel Zoo that we visited while on our house-boat had several species of owls. This one is a barking owl ( Ninox connivens). It is also known as the winking owl. They are medium sized and, as might be expected, one of their calls sounds like a barking dog. At other times, they may screech, scream, growl or howl.
The dietary habits are wide ranging from small marsupials, rabbits, bats, even frogs, reptiles and fish. Insects and moths they catch on the wing. Anything of its own size or smaller is regarded as a potential food source.
As can be seen by the photo, they are brown with white spots and large eyes with a yellow iris. They are between 390 mm and 440 mm long (15 – 17 inches).
There were two in the cage and they sat there like stuffed dummies. I had to take the photo through the netting. I took several photos and he never moved a muscle. Maybe he was a stuffed dummy. I find owls really interesting.
14 people like this
15 responses
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
4 Feb 19
I've always loved owls and have heard them hooting up north every summer. Doodles and I watched one watching us in the fall from various trees, so I scooted him indoors.
Once my father woke me up to show me a snowy owl perched on my bedroom window. It was a rare sight.
The biggest hit when I taught school were the cultural events when owls were brought in and allowed to fly around the auditorium. Both teachers and children got a "hoot" out of that.
However, the best thing ever was visiting Dunrobin Castle in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland overlooking Dornoch Firth. We went to view the falconer, and as I was filming with my iPad, the owl landed on it. My husband was quick to snap a photo.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121540)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Feb 19
I love owls, I think they are very interesting birds. We have a lot of barred owls and screech owls here where I live, and they can get pretty noisy at night when they are active.
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@JudyEv (339333)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Feb 19
@moffittjc Isn't it lucky they don't have 12-hour sessions like the antechinus? You'd never get any sleep.
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@Deepizzaguy (102473)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
5 Feb 19
What I know about owls is that they are wise.
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@Deepizzaguy (102473)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
5 Feb 19
@JudyEv Not to mention that Night hawks are related to the owls.
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This is the first time I hear about them. I love owls, they are amazing birds. And now that I know about the barking thing, I live them even more. Maybe I could use one for protection 
@allknowing (135833)
• India
5 Feb 19
I missed a golden opportunity to record what we had in our garden a few years ago Those days I did not have a camera with a zoom feature. There were four of them sitting on top and we could see them in day time They would whisper to each other and not move Ofcourse they were the ordinary kind.
Those in your photo are huge and ofcourse rare. Why that name - I am scratching my head.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
That owl can really bark. It has a huge built.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67668)
• United States
4 Feb 19
Look at those eyes!!
We have "screech owls" that don't screech here in America.
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@wolfgirl569 (105760)
• Marion, Ohio
4 Feb 19
I like them until they are trying to get my chickens.
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@MATTKARVAR (78)
• Tehran, Iran
5 Feb 19
As far as I know owls aren't domestic animal, they go crazy when they kept in prison as domestic bird. Just let them go.
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@JudyEv (339333)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Feb 19
They have nice big cages and don't seem to be going crazy but I know what you are saying. Some of the birds there have been injured and can't go back into the wild.
