Editing Morepork

{{Short description|Species of owl}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Morepork
| image = Morepork 0A2A7676.jpg
| image_caption = Morepork in New Zealand
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Ninox novaeseelandiae'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T62023843A95186187 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T62023843A95186187.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| status2 = CITES_A2
| status2_system = CITES
| status2_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Appendices {{!}} CITES|url=https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|access-date=2022-01-14|website=cites.org}}</ref>
| genus = Ninox
| species = novaeseelandiae
| authority = ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin, JF]], 1788)
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision = 2 extant, 1 extinct (see text)
| synonyms = 
}}

The '''morepork''' ('''''Ninox novaeseelandiae'''''), better known as the '''morepork owl''', and also known by numerous other [[Onomatopoeia|onomatopoeic]] names (such as '''boobook''', '''mopoke''' or '''ruru'''),<ref name=":1" /> is a smallish, brown [[owl]] [[species]] found in [[New Zealand]], and to the northwest, on [[Norfolk Island]], an [[States and territories of Australia|Australian]] territory. It was also, formerly, found on [[Lord Howe Island]].<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last=Burnie |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fSAJCv8EL9YC&dq=Southern%20Boobook%20morepork%20call&pg=PA199 |title=Nature Guide: Birds |publisher=Penguin |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-7566-9862-1 |location=New York |page=199}}</ref> Three [[subspecies]] of the morepork are recognised, one of which is extinct and another that exists only as a [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] population.

First described by [[Johann Friedrich Gmelin]] in 1788, the morepork was thought to be the same species as the [[Australian boobook]] (''N. boobook''), native to Australia, [[East Timor|Timor-Leste]] and [[New Guinea]], something that endured for nearly two hundred years, until 1999. Similarly, it was also considered the same as the [[Tasmanian boobook]] (''N. leucopsis'') until 2022.

The morepork has dark-brown plumage with prominent pale spots and golden-yellow eyes. Like most owls, the species is generally [[Nocturnality|nocturnal]], though may be [[Crepuscular animal|crepuscular]] at times (or active at dawn and dusk), retiring to roost in secluded spots within the branches of trees. The morepork feeds on larger insects and small vertebrates, hunting by pouncing on them from tree perches. As with all owls, the morepork has supreme [[night vision]] and excellent hearing, able to locate a tiny lizard or rodent from many metres above and away. They then stealthily approach their targeted prey with near-silent flight, without flapping their wings, the prey often not even aware they are being pursued. 

The [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] (IUCN) has assessed the morepork's population and its potential for decline, and ranked the species as being of [[Least-concern species|least concern]] (not currently at-risk), owing to its presently large range and apparently stable population.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" />

==Taxonomy==
The morepork was [[Species description|formally described]] in 1788 by the German naturalist [[Johann Friedrich Gmelin]] in his revised and expanded edition of [[Carl Linnaeus]]'s ''[[Systema Naturae]]''. He placed it with the other owls in the [[genus]] ''[[Strix (bird)|Strix]]'' and coined the [[binomial nomenclature|binomial name]] ''Strix novaeseelandiae''.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Gmelin | first=Johann Friedrich | author-link=Johann Friedrich Gmelin| year=1788 | title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae : secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis | edition=13th | volume=1, Part 1 | language=Latin | location=Lipsiae [Leipzig] | publisher=Georg. Emanuel. Beer | page=296 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2896896 }}</ref> Gmelin based his description on the "New Zeeland owl" from [[Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui|Queen Charlotte Sound]] that had been described in 1781 by the English ornithologist [[John Latham (ornithologist)|John Latham]] in his multi-volume ''A General Synopsis of Birds''. Latham obtained his information from [[Johann Reinhold Forster]] who had accompanied [[James Cook]] on his [[Second voyage of James Cook|second voyage]] to the Pacific Ocean.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Latham | first=John | author-link=John Latham (ornithologist) | year=1781 | title=A General Synopsis of Birds | volume=1, Part 1 | publisher=Printed for Leigh and Sotheby | location=London | pages=149–150, No. 39 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33727661 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite book | editor-last=Peters | editor-first=James Lee | editor-link=James L. Peters | year=1940 | title=Check-List of Birds of the World | volume=4 | publisher=Harvard University Press | place=Cambridge, Massachusetts  | page=140 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14476611 }}</ref> The morepork is now one of 37 owls placed in the genus ''[[Ninox]]'' that was introduced in 1837 by English naturalist [[Brian Houghton Hodgson]].<ref>{{ cite journal | last=Hodgson  | first=Brian Houghton | year=1837 | title=Indication of a new genus belonging to the Strigine family, with description of the new species and type | journal=Madras Journal of Literature and Science | volume=5 | pages=23–25 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/46442146 }}</ref><ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=August 2022 | title=Owls | work=IOC World Bird List Version 12.2 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/owls/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=10 December 2022 }}</ref> "Morepork" has been designated the official name by the [[International Ornithological Committee]].<ref name=ioc/>

Three [[subspecies]] are recognised:<ref name=ioc/>
* ''N. n. novaeseelandiae'' (Gmelin, JF, 1788) – North and South Islands of New Zealand and [[Stewart Island]]
* ''N. n. undulata'' ([[John Latham (ornithologist)|Latham]], 1801) – the [[Norfolk boobook]], [[Norfolk Island]] (east of Australia)
*† ''N. n. albaria'' [[Edward Pierson Ramsay|Ramsay, EP]], 1888 – the [[Lord Howe boobook]], [[Lord Howe Island]] (east of Australia) extinct

Both [[Gerlof Fokko Mees]] and [[Ernst Mayr]] regarded the taxonomy of the boobook owl as extremely challenging,<ref name="Mees61">{{cite journal|last=Mees|first=Gerlof Fokko|date=1964|title=A revision of the Australian owls (Strigidae and Tytonidae)|journal=Zoologische Verhandelingen|volume=65|pages=3&ndash;62|url=http://dare.uva.nl/cgi/arno/show.cgi?fid=149007}}</ref> the latter remarking in 1943 that it was "one of the most difficult problems I have ever encountered".<ref name="mayr">{{cite journal|last=Mayr|first=Ernst|date=1943|title=Notes on Australian Birds (II)|journal=Emu|volume=43|issue=1|pages=3&ndash;17|doi=10.1071/MU943003|bibcode=1943EmuAO..43....3M }}</ref> In his 1968 book ''Nightwatchmen of the Bush and Plain'', Australian naturalist [[David Fleay]] observed that the boobooks from Tasmania more closely resembled those of New Zealand than those from mainland Australia, though he followed Mees in treating them as a single species.<ref name="olsen 2011">{{cite book|last=Olsen|first=Jerry|title=Australian High Country Owls|publisher=CSIRO|location=Collingwood, Victoria|date=2011|pages=15–17|chapter=What is a Southern Boobook?|isbn=9780643104112|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CDSmft_aRCMC&pg=PA15}}</ref> 
 
Janette Norman and colleagues tested the cytochrome ''b'' DNA of three subspecies (as well as the powerful and rufous owls) to ascertain whether the closest relative was used in breeding with the last surviving female of the Norfolk boobook. They discovered that although the Norfolk boobook was similar in plumage to the Tasmanian boobook, it was genetically much closer to the New Zealand subspecies. In fact, the two were so close genetically that they considered whether the Norfolk boobook should be recognised as a separate taxon at all, although they conceded the two were easily distinguishable in appearance, so maintained the three as subspecies; the Tasmanian boobook only diverged by 2.7% from the other two, while the powerful and rufous owls diverged by 4.4% from each other.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1016/S0006-3207(98)00012-3 | last1 = Norman | first1 = Janette | last2 = Olsen | first2 = Penny | last3 = Christidis | first3 = Les | year = 1998 | title = Molecular genetics confirms taxonomic affinities of the endangered Norfolk Island Bookbook Owl ''Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata'' | journal = Biological Conservation | volume = 86 | issue = 1| pages = 33–36 | bibcode = 1998BCons..86...33N }}</ref> Leading from this, the [[Australian boobook]] was split from the Tasmanian boobook and morepork in volume 5 of the ''[[Handbook of the Birds of the World#Volume 5: Barn-Owls to Hummingbirds|Handbook of the Birds of the World]]''; however, several authors, including [[Leslie Christidis|Les Christidis]] and Walter Boles, contested that the data had been misinterpreted from the Norman study, which had not sampled any Australian mainland boobooks at all. They treated the three taxa (southern, Tasmanian boobooks, and moreporks) as a single species.<ref>{{Cite book|first1=Les |last1=Christidis |first2=Walter |last2=Boles |author-link1=Leslie Christidis |title=Systematics and taxonomy of Australian birds |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |location=Collingwood, Victoria |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-643-06511-6|page=165|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SFP9P1i-PoEC&q=boobook}}</ref>

Examining both morphological and genetic (cytochrome ''b'') characters, Michael Wink and colleagues concluded that the Australian boobook was distinct from the morepork, as was the [[Tasmanian boobook]], which is raised to species status as ''Ninox leucopsis''.<ref>{{cite book|author=Michael Wink|author2=Petra Heidrich|author3=Hedi Sauer-Gürth|author4=Abdel-Aziz Elsayed|author5=Javier Gonzalez|name-list-style=amp|title=Owls of the World|editor1=König, Claus |editor2=Weick, Friedhelm |publisher=A&C Black|date=2008|edition=2nd|pages=42–63|chapter= Molecular phylogeny and systematics of owls (Strigiformes)|isbn=9781408108840}}</ref> In 2022, the [[International Ornithologists' Union|International Ornithological Congress]] reclassified the Tasmanian boobook and morepork as distinct species.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gwee |first1=Chyi Yin |last2=Christidis |first2=Les |last3=Eaton |first3=James A. |last4=Norman |first4=Janette A. |last5=Trainor |first5=Colin R. |last6=Verbelen |first6=Philippe |last7=Rheindt |first7=Frank E. |date=2017 |title=Bioacoustic and multi-locus DNA data of Ninox owls support high incidence of extinction and recolonisation on small, low-lying islands across Wallacea |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.024 |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=109 |pages=246–258 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.024 |pmid=28017857 |issn=1055-7903|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Owls – IOC World Bird List |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/owls/ |access-date=2022-08-24 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:A Ruru in My Garage! 02 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Morepork (ruru) in New Zealand]]
The morepork is {{convert|26|to|29|cm|in|round=0.5|abbr=on}} long, with the female slightly larger than the male. Females are slightly heavier at {{cvt|170-216|g|oz|abbr=on}} compared with the male's {{cvt|140-156|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref name="König 2009">{{cite book|author1=König, Claus |author2=Weick, Friedhelm |author3=Becking, Jan-Hendrik |title=Owls of the World|publisher=A&C Black|date=2009|series=Helm Identification Guides|pages=455–56|isbn=9781408108840}}</ref> The morepork has generally dark brown head and upperparts, with pale brown spots on head and neck and white markings on the rest of the upperparts, with a pale yellow-white supercilium (eyebrow), dark brown ear [[Covert feather|coverts]], and buff cheeks.{{sfn|Higgins|1999|p=867}} The eyes are yellow to golden-yellow.{{sfn|Higgins|1999|p=869}} The feathers of the chin and throat are buff with dark brown shafts. The feathers of the underparts are mostly dark brown with buff and white spots and streaks, with the larger markings on the belly making it look paler overall. The upper tail is dark brown with lighter brown bars.{{sfn|Higgins|1999|p=867}} The [[Beak#Cere|cere]] and bill is pale blue-grey with a black cutting edge. The feet are orange or yellow with blackish claws.{{sfn|Higgins|1999|p=869}}

Young moreporks do not attain adult plumage properly until their third or fourth year.{{sfn|Higgins|1999|p=867}} The tips of juvenile's 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. Their plumage is a darker and more greyish brown overall than that of adults.{{sfn|Higgins|1999|p=868}}

==Distribution and habitat==
In New Zealand's North Island, it is common from [[Rangaunu Harbour]] south to southern [[Taranaki]] and west of [[Tauranga]], [[Lake Taupō]], and [[Whanganui]], as well as between [[Murupara]] and the [[Hangaroa River]] in the northeast, and southern [[Manawatū District|Manawatū]], [[Wellington]], and [[Wairarapa]] in the south, and uncommon outside these areas. In the South Island, it is more common west of the [[Southern Alps]], around [[Marlborough Region|Marlborough]] and in [[Southland, New Zealand|Southland]]. It is common on [[Stewart Island]] and offshore islands.{{sfn|Higgins|1999|p=855}}

In New Zealand, it primarily inhabits forests dominated by ''[[Podocarpus]]'', ''[[Nothofagus]]'', ''[[Metrosideros]]'', and other hardwoods, up to the alpine tree line. On Norfolk Island, it lives in forests of Norfolk Island pine (''[[Araucaria heterophylla]]'').{{sfn|Higgins|1999|p=854}}

==Behaviour==
They are usually seen singly, in pairs, or in small family groups of an adult pair and up to three young.

[[Swamp harrier]]s could feasibly prey on young moreporks.{{sfn|Higgins|1999|p=867}}

During the day, moreporks sleep in roosts. Although mainly [[nocturnal]], they are sometimes active at [[crepuscular|dawn and dusk]]. The main hunting times are evenings and mornings, with brief bursts of activity through the night. On dark nights, they often perch through the middle hours, and particularly if the weather is bad, may hunt by daylight, instead.

===Breeding===
[[File:Morepork ninox novaeseelandiae-511879 (cropped).jpg|alt=Image of medium-sized egg from Ninox novaeseelandiae|thumb|Egg from ''N. novaeseelandiae'' in the collection of [[Auckland War Memorial Museum|Auckland Museum]]]]
Moreporks nest anywhere the trees are large enough to have hollows.{{sfn|Higgins|1999|p=854}}

===Feeding===
Although their main hunting technique is perch-and-pounce, they are agile birds with a swift, goshawk-like wing action and the ability to maneuver rapidly when pursuing prey or [[Hawking (birds)|hawking]] for insects.

They hunt a variety of animals – mainly large invertebrates including scarab and [[huhu beetle]]s, [[moth]]s and caterpillars, spiders, [[grasshopper]]s, and in New Zealand, [[wētā]]. They also take almost any suitably sized [[prey]], particularly small birds, rats, and mice. They can find suitable food in pine forests as well as native forest.

==Conservation status==
A widespread and generally common species, morepork is listed as being a [[least concern|species of least concern]] by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]], on account of its large range and stable population, with no evidence of any significant decline.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> Like most species of owl, the morepork is protected under Appendix II of the [[CITES|Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora]] (CITES) meaning the international import and export of the species (including parts and derivatives) is regulated.<ref name=CITES>{{cite web|url=http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml|title=Appendices I, II and III|date=22 May 2009|publisher=[[CITES]]|access-date=18 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317013927/http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=17 March 2010}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150" caption="Morepork (ruru)">
File:Nz boobook.JPG|Morepork in [[Warkworth, New Zealand]]
File:A Ruru in My Garage! 01.jpg|Morepork resting in a garage
File:Ninox novaeseelandiae (AM LB12867-2).jpg|alt=Image of feathers from Ninox novaeseelandiae in the collection of Auckland Museum|Display of feathers at [[Auckland museum]]
File:Ruru fledgling.jpg|Ruru nestling at [[Remutaka Forest Park]], New Zealand
File:MoreporkMaunga.jpg|alt=Image of Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae) on Maungatautari Mountain|Morepork at [[Maungatautari]], New Zealand
File:Morepork.jpg|alt=Image of Ninox novaeseelandiae from Kiwi Birdlife Park, Queenstown|Morepork at Kiwi Birdlife Park, [[Queenstown, New Zealand]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Cited texts===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Higgins|first=P.J. | chapter=''Ninox novaeseelandiae'' Southern Boobook | title=Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 4: Parrots to Dollarbird |year=1999 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location= Melbourne, Victoria | pages=852–875, Plate 39 | isbn=0-19-553071-3 | chapter-url=https://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/sites/all/files/295_Morepork.pdf }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ninox novaeseelandiae}}
*[http://www.wingspan.co.nz/birds_of_prey_new_zealand_morepork_native_owl.html Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust]
*[https://ebird.org/species/morepo2 Photos, audio and video of morepork] from [[Cornell Lab of Ornithology]]'s Macaulay Library

{{Portal bar|Birds|Animals|Biology|New Zealand|Australia}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q908909}}
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[[Category:Ninox]]
[[Category:Birds of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Birds of Norfolk Island]]
[[Category:Owls of Oceania]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1788]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Johann Friedrich Gmelin]]