Laughing owl genus "Sceloglaux" as previously thought, but instead belong to the genus "Ninox". The analysis indicated that the laughing owl may be a sister taxon to the "Ninox" clade containing the barking owl, Sumba boobook, and morepork, the latter of which shared New Zealand with the laughing owl. The laughing owl's plumage was yellowish-brown striped with dark brown. White straps were on the scapulars, and occasionally the hind neck. Mantle feathers were edged with white. The wings and tail had light-brown bars. The tarsus had yellowish to reddish-buff feathers. The facial disc was white behind and below the eyes, fading to
Australasian pipit Australasian pipit The Australasian pipit ("Anthus novaeseelandiae") is a fairly small passerine bird of open country in Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. It belongs to the pipit genus "Anthus" in the family Motacillidae. It was formerly lumped together with the Richard's, African, Mountain and Paddyfield pipits in a single species: Richard's pipit, "Anthus novaeseelandiae". Some authors split the Australasian pipit further into two species: Australian pipit ("Anthus australis") in Australia and New Guinea and New Zealand pipit ("Anthus novaeseelandiae"), also called Pïhoihoi, in New Zealand. It is a slender bird, 16 to 19 cm long, and weighs about 40