Bird of the Month - Ruru

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Ruru (Morepork)

A common sound both in the bush here at Awastone and around town at the moment is the Mewing call of the Ruru. The native owl is more commonly associated with its haunting “morepork” call, after which Pakeha settlers named it (The Maori name Ruru also reflects this call).

The Ruru has a similar look and plumage to the falcon with piercing yellow eyes and average around 30cm from head to tail.

That shape you see sweeping into the periphery of your porchlight is likely to be the Morepork as it sweeps up the bugs attracted to it.

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