Fun Golden Masked Owl Facts For Kids

Divya Raghav
Jan 14, 2023 By Divya Raghav
Originally Published on Aug 05, 2021
Edited by Natalie Rayworth
Fact-checked by Chandan Shukla
Read these golden masked owl facts to learn about these birds found in the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.1 Min

Golden masked owls (Tyto aurantia) belong to the kingdom of animalia, the order of strigiformes, the family of tytonidae, the genus of tyto, the class of aves, and the phylum of chordata. Golden masked owls (Tyto aurantia) are also called the New Britain masked owl, Bismarck masked owl, and New Britain barn owl.

These birds are a species of barn owl that are local to New Britain's island, Papua New Guinea.

Golden masked owls, of class aves, live on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea, located near Australia. They live in a tropical climate in lowland and coniferous forests. There is, in fact, no such thing as a golden owl. The golden owl is, in fact, a collectible item sold off at an auction.

New Britain barn owl, Bismarck masked owl or the barn golden masked owl diet mainly consists of rodents, birds, insects, rabbits, amphibians, bandicoots, and other small owls. They can eat around four small rodents per night. The conservation status of the golden masked owl (Tyto aurantia) is Vulnerable, and the population of this owl is thought to be decreasing.

Here on our page, we have lots of golden masked owl facts that everyone will enjoy. Let's have a look at these interesting facts, and if you do like them, then read our house finch and barn owl facts.

Golden Masked Owl Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a golden masked owl?

Golden masked owls (Tyto aurantia), of class aves are also known as the New Britain barn owl. They are a species of barn owl who are indigenous to the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. They belong to the family of tytonidae and the kingdom of animalia.

What class of animal does a golden masked owl belong to?

Golden masked barn owls belong to the class of aves, the phylum of chordata, and the kingdom of animalia.

How many golden masked owls are there in the world?

It has been reported that there could be around 2,500 to 9,999 individual golden masked owls in Papua New Guinea. However, the exact figure is unknown.

Where does a golden masked owl live?

Golden masked barn owls, of class aves, live in the tropical forests on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. They live near the equator and don't migrate.

What is a golden masked owl's habitat?

Golden masked barn owls inhabit the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea which is located near Australia. They like to live in a tropical climate, especially in lowland and coniferous forests. They like warm and swampy temperatures, and don't like deserts.

Who do golden masked owls live with?

Golden masked owls are solitary birds, but they sometimes pair up with other birds for mating and help with navigation.

How long does a golden masked owl live?

The life span of golden masked barn owls is an average of four years in the wild.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding season of golden masked barn owls lasts throughout the year, and they stay with the same mate year after year. This means that they are monogamous creatures.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the New Britain masked owl, also known as the Bismarck masked owl or barn owl, is Vulnerable. The population of this owl is steadily decreasing.

Golden Masked Owl Fun Facts

What do golden masked owls look like?

Golden masked owls, or New Britain masked owls, have orange or brown feathers on the back and the top of their head. They have a face that is heart-shaped with white and yellow feathers. They also have some white feathers running down their chest.

There are two dark eyes on their heart-shaped face. The golden masked owl has ears that are hidden on the sides of their head. They belong to the kingdom of animalia, phylum chordata and genus tyto.

Golden Masked Owl

How cute are they?

Golden masked owls have a white-yellow, heart-shaped face and large dark eyes. They are carnivores who eat small rodents, insects, rabbits, birds, and sometimes other owls. Some people may find them cute to look at.

How do they communicate?

Golden masked owls possess ears that are hidden on the sides of their head. One ear is higher on their head than the other, and the left ear is able to hear sounds occurring on the ground below them, whereas the right ear hears sounds in the air.

How big is a golden masked owl?

Golden masked owls height ranges from 10.6-12.9 in (26-32 cm). Female golden masked owls are bigger than male golden masked owls. Masked owls are the largest of the tyto genus.

How fast can a golden masked owl fly?

Golden masked owls (Tyto aurantia) can fly at speeds of up to 20 mph (32 kmph).

How much does a golden masked owl weigh?

A fully grown golden masked owl (Tyto aurantia) weighs up to 0.9-1.7 lb (0.4-0.7 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

The female golden masked owl is called a hen, and the male golden masked owl are simply called male owls.

What would you call a baby golden masked owl?

Baby golden masked owls (Tyto aurantia) are called owlets or nestlings.

What do they eat?

New Britain masked owls, or golden masked owls (Tyto aurantia), are carnivores. Their diet mainly consists of rodents. They also eat birds, insects, rabbits, amphibians, bandicoots, and other small owls. They can eat as many as four small rodents per night.

Are they dangerous?

They can be dangerous. They may attack animals and humans while defending their offspring, mates, or territory.

Would they make a good pet?

No, they are wild creatures. They cannot be confined to domestic living. Golden masked owls can't be kept as pets due to the sheer nature and size of this bird.

Did you know...

While these golden masked owls fly high, they can still hear a mouse moving in the tall grasses of a field.

The golden masked owl's call

Golden masked owls are also called New Britain barn owl, New Britain masked owl and Bismarck masked owl. This owl makes a sound like "kaaa-ka" which is repeated several times.

Why are golden masked owls endangered?

It has been reported by officials that there are around 2,500 to 9,999 individual golden masked owls in Papua New Guinea. They stay in hiding and this makes it challenging to determine an exact population. The conservation status of the golden masked owl (Tyto aurantia) is Vulnerable and the population of this owl is thought to be decreasing.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including secretary bird, or tawny eagle.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our golden masked owl coloring pages.

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Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_masked_owl

https://a-z-animals.com/animals/golden-masked-owl/

https://animalia.bio/golden-masked-owl

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Written by Divya Raghav

Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

Divya Raghav picture

Divya RaghavBachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

With a diverse range of experience in finance, administration, and operations, Divya is a diligent worker known for her attention to detail. Born and raised in Bangalore, she completed her Bachelor's in Commerce from Christ University and is now pursuing an MBA at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Bangalore. Along with her professional pursuits, Divya has a passion for baking, dancing, and writing content. She is also an avid animal lover who dedicates her time to volunteering for animal welfare causes.

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Fact-checked by Chandan Shukla

Bachelor of Science specializing in Computer Science

Chandan Shukla picture

Chandan ShuklaBachelor of Science specializing in Computer Science

With a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Aryabhatta College, University of Delhi, Chandan is a skilled and passionate technophile. He has completed a machine learning training program and is adept in various programming languages. He has been working as a content writer for two years while also striving to become a proficient tech professional.

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