The Southern boobook (Ninox boobook) name is derived from its two-tone boo-book call which takes place from sunset through till dawn. It is a mainly nocturnal species, though may be active at dawn and dusk, hiding by day in tree hollows or thick foliage, and coming out at night to feed on insects. The smallest and most common owl in Australia, it is native to mainland Australia, southern New Guinea, the island of Timor, and the Sunda Islands.
