Tyto novaehollandiae
System : Terrestrial
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Aves
Strigiformes
Tytonidae
  • Not Evaluated
    NE
  • No Alien Population
    NA
  • Data Deficient
    DD
  • Minimal Concern
    MC
  • Minor
    MN
  • Moderate
    MO
  • Major
    MR
  • Massive
    MV
  • General
  • Distribution
  • Impact
  • Management
  • Bibliography
  • Contact
Common name
Australian Masked Owl (English)
Synonym
Strix novaehollandiae ,Stephens, 1826
Similar species
Summary

Principal source:

Compiler:

Review:

Publication date:

Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2025) Species profile: Tyto novaehollandiae. Downloaded from http://iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Tyto+novaehollandiae on 05-02-2025.

Countries (or multi-country features) with distribution records for Tyto novaehollandiae
ALIEN RANGE
NATIVE RANGE
Informations on Tyto novaehollandiae has been recorded for the following locations. Click on the name for additional informations.
Lorem Ipsum
Location Status Invasiveness Occurrence Source
Details of Tyto novaehollandiae in information
Status
Invasiveness
Arrival date
Occurrence
Source
Introduction
Species notes for this location
Location note
Management notes for this location
Impact
Mechanism:
Outcome:
Ecosystem services:
Impact information
Red List assessed species 0:
Management information
Bibliography
0 references found for Tyto novaehollandiae

Management information
Contact
The following 0 contacts offer information an advice on Tyto novaehollandiae
MV
Tyto novaehollandiae
Australian Masked Owl
Date assessed
2020-05-19
Year published
2021
Eicat category
MV (Massive)
Justification for EICAT assessment


Several species of owl were introduced to Lord Howe Island in the 1920s in an attempt to control black rats (Rattus rattus). Experts beleive that the Lord Howe southern boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria) disappeared from the island in the 1950s, and that the introduced Australian masked owl probably preyed on the boobook, which may have caused its extinction (NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, 2020). Owls are known to prey on other owl species (see Mikkola, 1976), and the Australian masked owl is a large powerful owl - the native boobook owl was a relatively small species by comparison. Indeed, the Australian masked owl is known to prey on other boobook species in its native range (NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, 2020). However, there is no direct evidence of Australian masked owls preying on the Lord Howe southern boobook on Lord Howe Island. Other possible causes of the boobook's extinction include competition from other introduced owl species such as the barn owl (Tyto alba), and predation by black rats.
Confidence rating
Low
Mechanism(s) of maximum impact
Predation
Countries of most severe impact
Australia
Description of impacts
The Australian masked owl is believed to have preyed on the Lord Howe southern boobook on Lord Howe Island. This predation, probably in combination with competition from other introduced owl species and predation by black rats, is likely to have caused the extinction of the boobook.
Assessor
Thomas Evans
Contributors
Reviewers
EICAT authority
Recommended citation
Thomas Evans (2025). Tyto novaehollandiae. IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT).