possible little owl in Wellington

[Victoria Robson]

I live on Beacon Hill Road in Strathmore Park,Wellington. It is 6.15 pm and I have just heard what sounds like a little owl call. It was definitely not a morepork. Could this be possible?

[David Riddell]

Hi Victoria, certainly not impossible, as there are little owls just across the strait in Marlborough, and there have been unconfirmed records from the North Island before. On the other hand, it seems moreporks have a wider range of calls than are formally documented, and some of them can sound very like little owls'. See this discussion - viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4522

Some day someone will probably confirm a North Island little owl, so do keep an eye out.

[Victoria Robson]

Thanks, I will definitely keep an eye out.