The Laughing Owl

The Laughing Owl got its name from the high pitched chattering call it made at the beginning of every evening when the bird was in flight. This owl was found only in New Zealand where it became extinct sometime around 1914. The decline and extinction of the Lauging Owl is said to have been cause by weasels and other animals which were introduced to the island.

The Laughing Owl was about 15 inches in length with a wingspan of about 20 inches. It was brownish in color and had a round head with grey facial disks and large brown eyes.

Because of its short wingspan, this owl was not much of a flyer. It spent much of its time on the ground, making its nests rocky crevices and caves. The female usually laid two eggs which took about 28 days to hatch.

The Lauging Owl's diet consisted mostly of rodents, lizards, and insects which it hunted on the ground.


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