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The laughing owl (Sceloglaux albifacies), one of the two owls native to New Zealand, was once widely-distributed but is now close to extinction – if not already so. It began to disappear in the North Island in the early 19th century or before, and rapidly became scarce in the South Island after about 1880. It has not been “officially” seen since 1914, though persistent reports of its continued presence in parts of the South Island are still received. The species’ appearance, calls, behaviour, food habits and breeding biology are described and speculations made about the reasons for its disappearance.