The Morepork, Mopoke, Ruru, Tasmanian Spotted Owl and Southern Boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae are different names for the New Zealand Morpork owl. It has almost 20 common names. It is most common in temperate woodlands. Almost any suitably sized prey is taken, particularly small birds, mammals and large insects such as moths, grasshoppers and, in New Zealand, wetas. These photos were taken at the Rainbow Springs Nature Park in Rotorua.
Associated most often with the night and the spirit world the haunting call of the Morepork sent shivers of foreboding down the spines of the early settlers of New Zealand as well as the Maori who revered it as an ancestral spirit. When it appeared near a dwelling it meant that someone had died. Often families would develop a close relationship with a particular bird, especially if it sat nearby or tried to enter their house.
It derived its name from its call – “morepork, morepork."

• Home NewZealand > 
• Owl Morepork >