Morepork
| Morepork | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Infra-class | Neoaves |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Strigidae |
| Sub-family | Striginae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Ninox |
| Species Information | |
| Species | N. novaeseelandiae |
| Population statistics | |
| Population | Unknown (2016 est.)[1] |
| Conservation status | Least concern[2] |
The morepork or ruru (Ninox novaeseelandiae) is a species of owl of the family Strigidae, and found over much of New Zealand and Tasmania.
Description
The morepork is medium-sized, about 10 to 11.5 inches long, and weighs 4.9 to 7.6 ounces. Females are larger than males. Plumage is dark brown above, with a scattering of light brown and white spots; the underside has more white, giving the belly a streaked appearance. The facial disk is ringed in spotty yellowish-white, with the "eye brows" more heavily defined. The tail is dark brown, banded in light brown. Eyes and feet are yellow. Juvenile birds are a dark grayish-brown, with feather tips having a fluffy, down-like appearance; they do not gain adult plumage until after their third year.
The owl's name is part of the local dialect, in reference to its distinctive hooting call[3].
Subspecies
- Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria, Lord Howe boobook; Australia (Lord Howe Island; extinct)
- Ninox novaeseelandiae leucopsis, Tasmanian boobook or Tasmanian spotted owl; Australia (Tasmania)
- Ninox novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae, morepork; New Zealand
- Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata, Norfolk boobook; Australia (Norfolk Island; extinct)
