Southern boobook their upperparts. The tips of their feathers are white and fluffy, remnants of the nestlings' down. These are worn away over time, persisting longest on the head. The feathers of the head, neck and underparts are fluffier overall. Immatures in their second and third year have plumage more like adults, though their crowns are paler and more heavily streaked. On mainland Australia, it could be confused with the barking owl or the brown hawk-owl ("Ninox scutulata"), a rare vagrant to the northwest, although the southern boobook is easily distinguished by its squat posture and distinctive pale border to its face
New Britain boobook series of rapidly repeated "whoo"s, starting at a low pitch which rises and becomes faster and louder. This species is found in the lowlands and hills of the New Britain and New Ireland Endemic Bird Areas at elevations of up to above sea level. It is fairly common in its small range and is nocturnal. It roosts during the day alone or in pairs in the middle to upper parts of the forest canopy. It feeds mainly on insects and small mammals. Formerly classified as being a "Species of Least Concern" by the IUCN, the New Britain boobook was later