Strigidae
フクロウ科
fukurō ka

General

Information is from dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. Korean glosses are tentative. Comments and corrections welcome. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.

In everyday language, the broad term for all kinds of owl is フクロウ fukurō (occasionally フクロ fukuro), written with the character 梟. As a species name フクロウ fukurō ornithologically refers to Strix uralensis, the Ural Wood Owl.

More strictly, owls in Japanese can be divided into:

a) ズク zuku or ミミズク mimi-zuku eared zuku', which have 'ears' (耳 mimi), and

b) フクロウ fukurō, which do not.

This distinction is not absolute -- some 'earless' owls are also called mimi-zuku. Mimi-zuku most commonly refers to the Collared Scops Owl (ō ko-no-ha zuku 'large leaf owl').

The writing of mimi-zuku and zuku in Chinese characters is a convoluted affair.

1) They can be written with the characters 木兔 'tree-rabbit' (read mù-tù in modern Mandarin), an old Chinese name for the eared owls not found in modern Chinese dictionaries. While the meaning of the individual characters is 'tree-rabbit', the combination is apprehended as a single unit meaning 'eared owl', and can thus be read either zuku or mimi-zuku in Japanese.

2) To complicate matters, Japanese prefers to follow Classical Chinese usage and write 木菟. The difference is the addition of the 'grass' radical 艹 on top of 兔. In Classical Chinese this character was simply an alternative form of 兔. In modern Chinese, however, 菟 (read tù) is strictly used for the 'dodder', a kind of wiry herb that parasitises other plants, and is not used to mean 'rabbit'.

3) Another refinement is the addition of the 'bird' radical (鳥) to the right of 兔 in order to indicate that the 木兔 'tree-rabbit' is actually a type of bird. This results in the alternative form 木鵵 'tree owl'.

4) Since ミミ mimi (耳) quite transparently means 'ear' in Japanese, some prefer to write it separately. Thus, mimi-zuku becomes 耳木菟 'eared tree-rabbit'.

5) Two other character combinations can be used to write mimi-zuku: 鴟鵂 and 角鴟, both based on Chinese names. 鴟鵂 chīxiū is a name used for the owls in general; 角鴟 jiǎo-chī means 'horned-owl'. The character 鴟 chī originally meant 'hawk' in Chinese but is now used for 'owl'. (In Japanese it is traditionally read tobi meaning 'kite'.)

As a result, ズク zuku can be written 木菟, 木兔, 木鵵, 鴟鵂, or 角鴟. ミミズク mimi-zuku can theoretically be written 木菟, 木兔, 木鵵, 耳木菟, 耳木兔, 耳木鵵, 鴟鵂, or 角鴟.

CULTURAL

In Japanese haiku, mimi-zuku or zuku (木菟) are season words for winter.

Species names

IERAGLAUCINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		JAPANESE		CHINESE			KOREAN
Ninox
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Ninox japonica	Northern Boobook	アオバズク (青葉木菟) ao-ba zuku 'green-leaf zuku' (Shared with Ninox scutulata)		北鹰鸮 (北鷹鴞) běi yīng-xiāo 'northern hawk-owl'	(褐鹰鸮) 褐鷹鴞 hè yīng-xiāo 'brown hawk-owl'	酱色鹰鸮 (醬色鷹鴞) jiàng-sè yīng-xiāo 'soy-coloured hawk-owl' (FS) 青叶鸮 (青葉鴞) qīng-yè-xiāo 'green/blue-leafed owl' (see Japanese) (FS) 乌猫王 (烏貓王) wū-māo-wáng 'dark (or crow) cat king' (FS) 鹞形猫王 (鷂形貓王) yào-xíng-māo-wáng 'sparrowhawk-shaped cat king' (FS)	솔부엉이 sol-bueongi 'pine earedowl'
SURNIINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		JAPANESE		CHINESE			KOREAN
Aegolius
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Aegolius funereus	Tengmalm's Owl or Boreal Owl Nyctale de Tengmalm Rauhfußkauz Мохноногий сыч	キンメフクロウ (金目梟) kin-me fukurō 'golden-eyed owl'		鬼鸮 (鬼鴞) guǐ xiāo 'demon owl'
STRIGINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		JAPANESE		CHINESE			KOREAN
Otus
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Otus sunia	East Asian scops owl East Asian scops-owl Petit-duc d'Orient Orient-Zwergohreule Уссурийския совка Буланая совка	コノハズク (木の葉木菟) ko-no-ha zuku 'tree-leaf zuku'		红角鸮 (紅角鴞) hóng jiǎo-xiāo 'red horned-owl' (1, 2, 4, 5) 东方角鸮 (東方角鴞) dōngfāng jiǎo-xiāo 'eastern horned-owl' (3)	(东方角鸮) 東方角鴞 dōngfāng jiǎo-xiāo 'eastern horned-owl' Taiwan formerly: (角鸮) 角鴞 jiǎo-xiāo 'horned-owl'	棒槌雀 (棒槌雀) bàngchuí què 'wooden club (=blockheaded) sparrow' 普通鸮 (普通鴞) pǔtōng xiāo 'common owl' 夜猫子 (夜貓子) yè māozi 'night-cat' (FS) 聒聒鸟子 (聒聒鳥子) guō-guō-niǎo 'noisy bird' (northern) (FS)	소쩍새 sojjeok-sae 'scopsowl-bird'
Otus elegans	Riukiu scops owl Elegant scops-owl Petit-duc élégant Schmuckeule Совка Рюкю	リュウキュウコノハズク (琉球木の葉木菟) ryūkyū ko-no-ha zuku 'Ryukyu tree-leaf zuku' (from Internet)		兰屿角鸮 (蘭嶼角鴞) lányǔ jiǎo-xiāo 'Lanyu horned-owl' (2, 3, 4) 琉球角鸮 (琉球角鴞) liúqiú jiǎo-xiāo 'Ryukyu horned-owl' (alt in 1, 5)	(兰屿角鸮) 蘭嶼角鴞 lányǔ jiǎo-xiāo 'Lanyu horned-owl'
Otus bakkamoena	Collared scops owl Petit-duc à collier Sunda-Zwergohreule Ошейниковая совка	オオコノハズク (大木の葉木菟) ō ko-no-ha zuku 'large tree-leaf zuku'		领角鸮 (領角鴞) lǐng jiǎo-xiāo 'collared horned-owl'	(领角鸮) 領角鴞 lǐng jiǎo-xiāo 'collared horned-owl'	毛脚鸺留 (毛腳樇鶹) máo-jiǎo xiūliū 'hairy-legged owlet' (FS) 光足鸺留 (光足樇鶹) guāng-zú xiūliū 'bare-legged owlet' (FS)	큰소쩍새 keun-sojjeok-sae 'large scopsowl-bird'
Asio
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Asio otus	Long-eared owl Hibou moyen-duc Waldohreule Ушастая сова	トラフズク (虎斑木菟) tora-fu zuku 'tiger-striped zuku'		长耳鸮 (長耳鴞) cháng-ěr xiāo 'long-eared owl'	(长耳鸮) 長耳鴞 cháng-ěr xiāo 'long-eared owl'	长耳猫头鹰 (長耳貓頭鷹) cháng-ěr māo-tóu-yīng 'long-eared cat-headed hawk' 夜猫子 (夜貓子) yè māozi 'night-cat' 长耳木兔 (長耳木兔) cháng-ěr mù-tù 'long-eared tree-rabbit' (northern) (FS, 31) 有耳麦猫王 (有耳麥貓王) yǒu ěr mài māo-wáng 'eared grain cat king' (southern) (FS) 虎兔鸟 (虎兔鳥) hǔ-tù-niǎo 'tiger rabbit bird' 虎鵵 (虎鵵) hǔ-tù 'tiger owl' (character for tù indicates that the meaning is owl, not rabbit) (FS) 彪木兔 (彪木兔) mù-tù 'tiger wood rabbit' (dict) (FS)	칡부엉이 chirk-bueongi 'arrowroot (kudzu?) earedowl'
Asio flammeus	Short-eared owl Hibou des marais Sumpfohreule Болотная сова	コミミズク (小木菟) ko mimi-zuku 'small eared-zuku'		短耳鸮 (短耳鴞) duǎn-ěr xiāo 'short-eared owl'	(短耳鸮) 短耳鴞 duǎn-ěr xiāo 'short-eared owl'	短耳猫头鹰 (短耳貓頭鷹) duǎn-ěr māo-tóu-yīng 'short-eared cat-headed hawk' (FS) 小耳木兔 (小耳木兔) xiǎo-ěr mù-tù 'small-eared tree-rabbit' (northern) (FS) 田猫王 (田貓王) tián māo-wáng 'field cat king' (southern) (FS) 仓鸮 (倉鴞) cāng-xiāo 'barn owl' (FS) 枭兔 (梟兔) xiāo-tù 'owl-rabbit' (dict) (FS)	쇠부엉이 soe-bueongi 'small earedowl'
Strix
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Strix uralensis	Ural owl Ural wood owl Chouette de l'Oural Habichtskauz Длиннохвостая неясыть, Уралская неясыть	フクロウ (梟) fukurō 'owl'		长尾林鸮 (長尾林鴞) cháng-wěi lín-xiāo 'long-tailed forest-owl'		夜猫子 (夜貓子) yè māozi 'night-cat' 满洲木鸮 (滿洲木鴞) mǎnzhōu mù-xiāo 'Manchurian wood owl' (FS) 东方乌拉山枭 (東方烏拉山梟) dōng-fāng wūlā-shān xiāo 'eastern Ural mountain owl' (FS)	긴점박이올빼미 gin-jeombagi-olppaemi 'long dappled owl'
Bubo
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Bubo scandiacus Nyctea scandiaca	Snowy owl Harfang des neiges Schnee-Eule Белая сова Полярная сова	シロフクロウ (白梟) shiro-fukurō 'white owl'		雪鸮 (雪鴞) xuě-xiāo 'snow owl'		白夜猫子 (白夜貓子) bái yè-māozi 'white night-cat' 白鸮 (白鴞) bái xiāo 'white owl' (FS)	흰올빼미 huin-olppaemi 'white owl'
Bubo bubo	Eurasian Eagle Owl Eurasian Eagle-owl Northern eagle owl Eagle owl Great Eagle Owl Grand-duc d'Europe Uhu Филин, Обыкновенный филин	ワシミミズク (鷲木菟) washi mimi-zuku 'eagle eared-zuku'		鵰鸮 (鵰鴞) diāo-xiāo 'eagle-owl'		鹫鱼鸮 (鷲魚鴞) jiù yú-xiāo 'eagle fish-owl' (鹫/鷲 is traditionally used for both eagles and vultures) 角鸱 (角鴟) jiǎo-chī 'horned-owl' (FS) 怪鸱 (怪鴟) guài-chī 'strange-owl' (FS) 老兔 (老兔) lǎo-tù 'old rabbit' (FS) 恨狐 (恨狐) hèn hú 'hate fox' (FS) 鹫兔鸟 (鷲兔鳥) jiù-tù-niǎo 'eagle rabbit' (鹫/鷲 is traditionally used for both eagles and vultures) 鹫兔 (鷲兔) jiù-tù 'eagle rabbit' (鹫/鷲 is traditionally used for both eagles and vultures) (FS)	수리부엉이 suri-bueongi 'eagle earedowl'
Bubo blakistoni Ketupa blakistoni	Blakiston's Eagle Owl Blakiston's Eagle-owl Blakiston's fish-owl Blakiston's fish owl Kétoupa de Blakiston Riesenfischuhu Рыбный филин	シマフクロウ (島梟) shima fukurō 'island owl' or possibly 'striped owl'	コタンクルカムイ kotankuru-kamui (Ainu word)	毛脚渔鸮 (毛腳漁鴞) máo-jiǎo yú-xiāo 'hair-footed fishing-owl' (1, 2, 3, 4) 毛腿渔鸮 (毛腿漁鴞) máo-tuǐ yú-xiāo 'hair-legged fishing-owl' (5)		毛脚鱼鸮 (毛腳魚鴞) máo-jiǎo yú-xiāo 'hair-footed fish-owl' (7) 巴君之鵰鸮 (巴君之鴞) bā-jún zhī diāo-xiāo 'Bajun's eagle-owl' (Gee) (FS)

中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全（修订版） 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000

中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005

中国鸟类野外手册（中文版）约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯，合作者：荷芬奇，翻译：卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000

世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002

世界鸟类名称（拉丁文、汉文、英文对照）第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002

香港及華南鳥類（第六版）（翻譯成中文及重新修訂） 尹璉、費嘉倫、林超英 香港性徵特區政府新聞處政府印務局 1994年
Birds of Hong Kong and South China (6th edition, translated into Chinese and newly revised) by Clive Viney, Karen Phillipps, Lin Chaoying, Hong Kong Govt. Press 1994

汉蒙名词术语分类词典（自然科学部分） Mongolian (Cyrillic): Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь (байгалийн шинжлэх ухааны бүлэг) (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary, natural sciences part) by 《汉蒙名词术语分类词典》编纂委员会 Mongolian (Cyrillic): "Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь" найруулах комисс (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary editorial committee), Inner Mongolian People's Press, Hohhot 1990