Golden Masked Owl

Quick Take

• This owl's ears aren't symmetrical, and that asymmetry is the secret behind one of nature's most precise hunting tools. Discover the ear asymmetry →
• Many people believe owls can turn their heads all the way around, but can they really? The truth is more surprising than the myth. See the head-turn truth →
• Its wings look ordinary, but a hidden structural feature lets it do something most birds cannot. Explore the wing structure →
• Ancient relatives of this owl once roamed Italy, and their bones reveal just how drastically the species has changed over millions of years. Uncover ancient fossil origins →

The golden masked owl is known for its golden-buff heart-shaped face and large dark eyes. This owl is a carnivore, eating small rodents, birds, insects, rabbits, and sometimes other owls. The feathers on its wings are designed for moving silently through the air. These birds live in the tropical climate of the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

5 Incredible Golden Masked Owl Facts

• This owl lives an average of 4 years in the wild.
• It has 2 to 3 eggs per clutch.
• This owl doesn’t hoot; it screeches.
• It is a solitary bird.
• It starts hunting for prey at dusk.

Evolution

Golden masked owls are members of the genus Tyto, which makes them related to barn owls, grass owls, other masked owls, and sooty owls. The genus contains 17 such species, including:

• Lesser and greater sooty owls.
• Australian, Manus, Minahasa, Moluccan, and Taliabu masked owls.
• American, Andaman, Eastern, and Western barn owls.
• African and eastern grass owls.
• Red and Itombwe owls.

Fossil evidence of the ancestors of this species can be found dating from the Miocene, the Pliocene, and the Pleistocene. Regional discoveries have been made in Central Europe, China, Cuba, and Italy.

The Tyto robusta, dating back to the Late Miocene or Early Pliocene, 5.5 million years ago in Italy, is one such example. This ancient species of barn owl has been found to have bones that are about 60% longer than those of its modern descendants.

The Tyto gigantea was also found during the same period in the same location as Tyto robusta, specifically in modern-day Gargano, a region that juts into the Adriatic from Italy’s eastern coast. It is believed to have been the same size as the Eurasian eagle-owl, if not larger.

Classification and Scientific Name

This owl’s scientific name is Tyto aurantia. The word Tyto is Greek, meaning owl, and the word aurantia is Latin for orange or tawny. This refers to the orangish feathers of the golden masked owl.

This bird is also called a Bismarck masked owl, a New Britain barn owl, or a New Britain masked owl. It belongs to the Tytonidae family and is in the Aves class. There are approximately 16 to 20 species of owl in the Tytonidae family, depending on the taxonomic authority consulted. Other owls in the Tytonidae family include the Australian masked owl, the Tasmanian masked owl, and the Sulawesi masked owl.

Appearance

This owl has orangish/brown feathers on its back and on the top of its head. Its face is heart-shaped with yellow and white feathers. The bill of this owl is flat; it has long legs and powerful talons. There are white feathers running down its chest. The two dark eyes on its heart-shaped face are constantly searching its surroundings.

Unlike other owls such as the Great Horned Owl. A golden masked owl has ears hidden on the sides of its head. One ear is higher on its head than the other. Its left ear is able to hear sounds occurring on the ground below it, while its right ear hears sounds in the air. This makes it easy to keep track of the sounds happening all around.

An adult golden masked owl can be from 10.6 to 12.9 inches tall. A 10-inch-tall golden masked owl stands at roughly two-thirds the height of a bowling pin. Fully grown, this owl weighs from 0.9 to 1.7 pounds. As an example, an owl that weighs 1 pound is equal to the weight of two hamsters from the pet shop. Normally, female golden masked owls are larger than males. The masked owl is the largest of the owls in the Tyto genus.

The coloration of a golden masked owl’s feathers blends in with the branches in its forest habitat. This is one of its main defenses against predators. Additionally, the design of the feathers on its wings allows it to fly silently. Its wings have serrated edges, or edges that look like the teeth of a comb. This design breaks up the air flowing over its wings and creates silent flight. As a bonus, this little owl can fly at speeds up to 40mph.

Behavior

Normally, the New Britain barn owl is a solitary animal, but it sometimes pairs with another owl. During breeding season, golden masked owls may gather in a group of seven or more. This group is called a parliament. They are shy creatures that like to stay hidden in their habitat.

It’s a myth that owls can turn their heads all the way around. All the way around would be 360 degrees. Owls, including the golden masked owl, have extra vertebrae in their neck, allowing them to turn their head 270 degrees. An owl’s eyes are fixed in place, so the ability to turn their head 270 degrees helps them take in their surroundings.

Habitat

This owl lives on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. This is an island near the continent of Australia. These owls live in a tropical climate, inhabiting lowland and montane forests. This owl lives near the equator and doesn’t migrate.

Diet

The golden masked owl is a carnivore. Its diet mostly consists of rodents. But it also eats birds, insects, rabbits, amphibians, bandicoots, and smaller owls. This owl may eat as many as four small rodents per night.

Like most owls, the golden masked owl has excellent hearing. It can hear the rustle of a small rodent in a field or on the forest floor. Its wings are silent when it flies, allowing it to sneak up on its prey to capture it.

Predators and Threats

Eagles, hawks, and other owls are all predators of these owls. Many of these predators are bigger and stronger than this owl, making it vulnerable to attacks.

Loss of habitat due to deforestation is another threat to this owl. These owls make their nests in hollow trees.

The conservation status of this owl is: Vulnerable. Its population is thought to be decreasing. This is unfortunate because the golden masked owl plays an important part in the ecosystem. It helps control the rodent population and serves as food for larger birds.

Reproduction and Lifestyle

The breeding season of this owl lasts throughout the year. These owls stay with the same mate year after year. In other words, they are monogamous. The pair makes a nest on soft mulch inside a hollow tree. Making a nest in a hollow tree helps to provide protection for the young. The female lays 2 to 3 eggs and sits on them while the male goes out to hunt for food to feed the female. The incubation period is 32 days.

Baby owls are called owlets or nestlings. Owlets weigh a little less than one ounce. They are born blind and without feathers, but quickly begin to grow a fine, pure white layer of down. Their eyes open at around 10 days old. As they grow, their feathers start to take on the orange/tawny, white, and yellow coloration of adult golden masked owls. Their mother brings them small rodents and other prey that she breaks into pieces for her owlets to swallow. After these owlets have all of their feathers, they continue to be fed by their parents for about a month longer. Then, they are pushed out of the nest to live independently. In total, they remain with their parents for about 80 days.

These owls have an average lifespan of 4 years. They are vulnerable to Psittacosis, a common respiratory illness.

Population

There are an estimated 2,500 to 9,999 individual golden masked owls in Papua New Guinea. These owls stay in hiding, making it challenging to determine an exact population number. Their conservation status is Vulnerable, and this owl’s population is thought to be decreasing.