Closely related to the hawk-owls of genus Ninox, which occur in Southeast Asia and Australia, N. natalis was first classified at species level by J.J.Lister in 1888.

[6] Phosphate mining has continued for over a century and more recently Australian Immigration Detention Facilities have been established increasing the impact from human habitation.

Ninox natalis occupies essentially exclusive territories and is widespread on the island utilizing both primary and disturbed habitats.

[6] Primarily insectivorous they consume medium to large insects, particularly beetles (Coleoptera), tree crickets (Gryllacris rufovaria), moths (Lepidoptera) and introduced cockroaches (Periplaneta americana).

The yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes, an invasive introduction, disrupts the habitat in a number of ways, but most notably through their elimination of populations of the island's keystone species the red crab (Gecarcoidea natalis) resulting in significant changes to forest composition.