Category: Lesser Sooty Owl Queensland 2019 – Part 4 of 4 – The Northern Tablelands and Cape York Peninsula – Rainforest Frogs, Pythons and the Enchanting Cuscus! There are possibly strong arguments both ways to have one species or three but having two probably doesn't make much sense. Breeding in Australasia: ne Queensland (Australia); can be seen in 2 countries. Behavior: Native to the Forest Kingdom of Tyto. It was once thought that all sooty owls comprised only one species in three distinct populations, but they have now been given a separate species status. Lesser Sooty Owls are endemic to the wet tropics of far-north Queensland. Please note that this information is taken from the series and may not be factual. This the final of four blogs viewing the mammals of Central and North Queensland, with the highlight being encounters with both species of Cuscus on the beautiful Cape York Peninsula. Lesser Sooty Owl (Tyto multipunctata)Considered by many to be one of the prettiest representatives of genus Tyto, the Lesser Sooty Owl inhabits the tropical mountain rainforests of north eastern Queensland. The Lesser Sooty Owl is endemic to the Wet Tropics region. Lesser Sooty Owl (Tyto multipunctata) bird calls and sounds on dibird.com. However the most recent genetic … Unlike their southern counterparts, the Lesser Sooty Owl hunts mostly terrestrial based prey of a much smaller size. The Lesser Sooty Owl stands marginally taller than a Barn Owl, but is much darker, with enormous dark eyes, stocky, muscular legs and large, powerful feet. The Lesser Sooty Owl: Distribution – Far North Queensland – Mountainy Rainforesty bits. Often inhabit trees. Lesser Sooty Owl Scientific Name: Tyto multipunctata: Appearance: Black or dark grey coloured (often speckled with white) with dark grey faces, heart shaped faces, grey, white speckled chests, and dark black eyes. The Lesser Sooty Owl is the small silver cousin to the big black Sooty Owl of south-eastern Australia. Lesser Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa multipunctata Species No. : 730 Band size: Trial Species Status: Prior to 2008 the Lesser Sooty Owl Tyto multipunctate and Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa were regarded as separate species. The reason Sooty Owl and Lesser Sooty Owlhave been lumped is that for many years the southern Sooty Owl was lumped with a similar taxa in Papua New Guinea (different subspecies) with the smaller Lesser Sooty Owl in the middle. Its call is also known as the “bomb whistle” but has slight metallic undertones. Though restricted in distribution, in the Tablelands area it is considered common, but decreasing in numbers (largely due to clearing).