Photo taken April 04 - New Zealnd. This bird was stunned whilst flying into a window.
The Morepork is a protected native Owl of New Zealand. It is a relatively common and widespread bird. They feed at night, mainly on large insects like weta, cicadas, moths, huhu beetles, and other night flying insects. They also eat spiders, mice, small rats and small birds.
The morepork has a variety of calls, calling mainly at night and starting at dusk. The familiar call is a very clear 'more-pork' which carries through a still night and can be heard a long way off. They screech a repeated 'cree' when hunting.
Breeding is between September and February and the nest can be virtually anywhere. The eggs are incubated solely by the female for 20 - 30 days and the young moreporks fledge about 35 days after hatching.
