Strigidae
Уулийнхан
uuliŋkhaŋ

General

This list is 'in beta'. Information is from dictionaries and other sources. Kazakh, Turkish, and 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.

Unlike English, Mongolian has a very broad range of words referring to the owls. However, the precise referents can be hard to pin down, with probable regional variation. Mongolian names include the following:

1. The general word for 'owl' is Шар шувуу shar shuvuu meaning 'yellow bird', possibly based on the yellow colour of owls' eyes. This typically referred to the Eagle Owl in the earlier taxonomy.

2. Owls with ears are known as Ууль uul' (also Ууль шувуу uul' shuvuu 'owl bird'), in Russian Buryat written Уули uuli.

3. The term Ариан ariaŋ appears to have originally meant owl in general, similar to Ууль uul'.

4. Холслог kholslog is another name applied to eared owls.

5. The word Бэгбаатар begbaatar is а commonly used name applied to certain types of owl, ranging from the Short-eared Owl to the Wood Owls to the Hawk Owls, but in particular the barred owls of the Strix genus. The meaning and etymology of бэг beg are unclear, although it is conceivably related to the Old Turkic term beg meaning 'tribal leader'. Баатар baatar means 'hero' and is a common component of men's names in Mongolia. A related Buryat term is Бэгсэргэ begserge. (Although no etymology has been advanced for this name, сэргэ serge is conceivably related to сэрэг meaning 'soldier'.)

6. Бүгээхэй bügeekhei is a name for very small species in general.

7. Жив шувуу jiv shuvuu 'cunning bird' or possibly 'flying squirrel bird' refers to Small and Pygmy Owls (бүгээхэй bügeekhei) and Wood Owls (бэгбаатар begbaatar).

8. The Scops Owls are known as Орволго orovlog.

9. Гуйванга guivaŋg or Гуйванг guivaŋg (also Гуйвангуу guivaŋguu) is used for large and small eared owls (by one source described as small owls living in marshy areas).

10. Сүлиг sülig is used for pygmy owls.

11. Явлиг yavlig or Явлаг yavlag (also Явлаг шувуу yavlag shuvuu 'yavlag bird') is another term for a smaller kind of owl, sometimes found in the combination Явлаг ууль yavlag uul' ('yavlag owl') and Яваг шар шувуу yavag shar shuvuu 'yavag yellow bird'. Mostaert's Dictionnaire Ordos says that this owl has a very 'heavy walk'. Besides owls, the name Явлаг yavlag is also applied to some diurnal raptors, notably the Osprey, being found in names like Явлаг галуу yavlag galuu ('yavlag goose'), Явлаг сар yavlag sar ('yavlag buzzard'), and Явлаг элээ yavlag elee (literally 'yavlag kite'), all of which refer to the Osprey.

12. A less auspicious name for owls is Үхээр шувуу ükheer shuvuu 'cadaver bird' or Үхээрийн шувуу ükheeriŋ shuvuu 'cadaver bird' owing to a traditional association with death.

Ornithological naming

The ornithological usage of names for strigid genera is in a state of considerable confusion. The following table shows Inner Mongolian naming (older and more recent), older Mongolian ornithological naming, and "binomial" Mongolian naming (post-2007):

In general, Inner Mongolian usage has drawn closer to previous Mongolian usage, while the "binomial" names of 2007, applying the criterion of one name per genus, made considerable changes to the assignment of names. One result of the reassignment of names is that Wood Owls and the Hawk Owls have swapped names.

1. Owls formerly termed Ууль uul' are split among Уульж uul'j (Snowy Owl), Бэгбаатар begbaatar (Hawk Owls), Ариан ariaŋ (Boreal Owl), and Гуйванга guivaŋg (Asio). Apart from Уульж uul'j, these are existing names found in standard dictionaries.

2. The Wood Owls, formerly called Бэгбаатар begbaatar, have now been given exclusive rights to the name Ууль uul'.

3. The term Бүгээхэй bügeekhei, formerly applied to several types of Pygmy Owl and Small Owl, is now restricted to the genus Athene, and the term Cүлиг sülig introduced for Glaucidium.

Species names

ABOUT THIS TABLE

SURNIINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		MONGOLIAN			EAST ASIAN			TURKIC
Surnia
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Surnia ulala	Hawk Owl Northern Hawk Owl Northern Hawk-owl Ястребинная сова	Харсуун бэгбаатар ᠬᠠᠷᠠᠰᠣᠨ ᠪᠡᠭ ᠪᠠᠭᠠᠲᠣᠷ kharsuuŋ begbaatar 'hawk beg-baatar' (baatar 'hero' = man's name)	Харсун ууль ᠬᠠᠷᠠᠰᠣᠨ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ kharsuŋ uul' 'hawk owl' (32)	Mongolia formerly: Харсуун ууль ᠬᠠᠷᠠᠰᠣᠨ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ kharsuuŋ uul' 'hawk owl'	猛鸮 (猛鴞) měng xiāo 'fierce owl'	オナガフクロウ (尾長梟) o-naga fukurō 'long-tailed owl'	긴꼬리올빼미 gin-kkori-olppaemi 'long-tailed owl'	Қыршаға жапалақ qırşağa japalaq 'qırşağa owl'
Glaucidium
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Glaucidium passerinum	Eurasian pygmy owl Eurasian pygmy-owl Pygmy owl Pygmy owlet Воробьиный сычик	Буслаг сүлиг ᠪᠣᠰᠯᠢᠭ ᠰᠦᠯᠢᠭ᠌ buslag sülig 'buslag sülig'	Дорнодын бүгээхэй ᠲᠣᠷᠣᠨᠠᠳᠣ ᠶᠢᠨ ᠪᠦᠭᠡᠭᠡᠬᠡᠢ dornodiŋ bügeekhei 'eastern owlet' (32)	Mongolia formerly: Дорнодын бүгээхэй ᠲᠣᠷᠣᠨᠠᠳᠣ ᠶᠢᠨ ᠪᠦᠭᠡᠭᠡᠬᠡᠢ dornodiŋ bügeekhei 'eastern owlet' IM also: Эрээн толгойт гуйванга ᠡᠷᠢᠶᠠᠨ ᠲᠣᠯᠣᠭᠠᠢᠢᠲᠣ ᠭᠣᠢᠢᠪᠠᠩᠭᠣ ereeŋ tolgoit guivanga 'flowery-headed guivanga' (31) Other: Буслаг бүгээхэй ᠪᠣᠰᠯᠢᠭ ᠪᠦᠭᠡᠭᠡᠬᠡᠢ buslag bügeekhei 'buslag owlet'	花头鸺鹠 (花頭鸺鹠) huā-tóu xiū-liú 'flower-headed owlet' (1, 2, 3, 4) 花头侏鸺鹠 (花頭侏鸺鹠) huā-tóu zhū xiū-liú 'flower-headed pygmy owlet' (5)	スズメフクロウ (雀梟) suzume fukurō 'sparrow owl'		Байғызша bayğızşa 'owlet-sha ?? '
Athene
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Athene noctua Athene noctus	Little owl Домовый сыч, Обыкновенный домовый сыч	Хотны бүгээхэй ᠬᠣᠲᠣᠨ ᠤ ᠪᠦᠭᠡᠭᠡᠬᠡᠢ khotni bügeekhei 'livestock-pen? owlet'	Хотны бүгээхэй ᠬᠣᠲᠣᠨ ᠤ ᠪᠦᠭᠡᠭᠡᠬᠡᠢ khotni bügeekhei 'livestock-pen? owlet' (32)	IM also: Өвөр зурааст ууль ᠦᠪᠦᠷ ᠵᠢᠷᠣᠭᠠᠰᠣᠲᠣ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ övör zuraast uul' 'breast-striped owl' (31)	纵纹腹小鸮 (縱紋腹小鴞) zòng-wén-fù xiǎo-xiāo 'vertical-pattern-bellied small owl' Taiwan: (纵纹腹小鸮) 縱紋腹小鴞 zòng-wén-fù xiǎo-xiāo 'vertical-pattern-bellied small owl'	コキンメフクロウ (小金目梟) ko kin-me fukurō 'small golden-eyed owl'	금눈쇠올빼미 geum-nun-soe-olppaemi 'golden-eyed small owl'	Байғыз bayğız 'owlet'	Kukumav 'owlet'
Aegolius
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Aegolius funereus	Tengmalm's Owl or Boreal Owl Мохноногий сыч	Савагт ариан ᠰᠠᠪᠠᠭᠲᠣ ᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠨ savagt ariaŋ 'yak-belly-haired ariaŋ'	Савагт ууль ᠰᠠᠪᠠᠭᠲᠣ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ savagt uul' 'yak-belly-haired owl' (32)	Mongolia formerly: Савагт ууль ᠰᠠᠪᠠᠭᠲᠣ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ savagt uul' 'yak-belly-haired owl'	鬼鸮 (鬼鴞) guǐ xiāo 'demon owl'	キンメフクロウ (金目梟) kin-me fukurō 'golden-eyed owl'		Орман байғызы orman bayğızı 'forest owlet'	Paçalı Baykuş 'shaggy-legged sir ? bird'
STRIGINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		MONGOLIAN			EAST ASIAN			TURKIC
Otus
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Otus scops	Eurasian scops owl Eurasian scops-owl Common scops-owl Scops owl European scops owl Сплюшка, Обыкновенная совка	Ердийн орволго ᠶᠡᠷᠣᠳᠠ ᠶᠢᠨ ᠣᠷᠪᠣᠯᠭ᠎ᠠ  yordiŋ orovlog 'common scopsowl'	Улаавар орволго ᠣᠯᠠᠪᠢᠷ ᠣᠷᠪᠠᠯᠭᠣ ulaavar orovlog 'rufous scopsowl' (31, 32) (shared with Otus sunia)	Mongolia formerly: Орволго ᠣᠷᠪᠣᠯᠭ᠎ᠠ  orovlog 'scopsowl'	西红角鸮 (西紅角鴞) xī hóng jiǎo-xiāo 'western red horned-owl' (2, 4) 红角鸮 (紅角鴞) hóng jiǎo-xiāo 'red horned-owl' (3) Taxonomy	ヨーロッパコノハズク (ヨーロッパ木の葉木菟) yōroppa ko-no-ha zuku 'European tree-leaf zuku' (some sources)		Маубас жапалақ mawbas japalaq 'listless owl'	İshakkuşu 'Isaac ? bird'
Otus sunia	East Asian scops owl East Asian scops-owl Уссурийския совка	Ойн орволго ᠣᠢ ᠶᠢᠨ ᠣᠷᠪᠣᠯᠭ᠎ᠠ  oiŋ orovlog 'forest scopsowl'	Улаавар орволго ᠣᠯᠠᠪᠢᠷ ᠣᠷᠪᠠᠯᠭᠣ ulaavar orovlog 'rufous scopsowl' (31) (shared with Otus scops)		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) Taiwan: (东方角鸮) 東方角鴞 dōngfāng jiǎo-xiāo 'eastern horned-owl'	コノハズク (木の葉木菟) ko-no-ha zuku 'tree-leaf zuku'	소쩍새 sojjeok-sae 'scopsowl-bird'
Asio
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Asio otus	Long-eared owl Ушастая сова	Соотон гуйванга ᠰᠣᠭᠣᠲᠣᠩ ᠭᠣᠢᠢᠪᠢᠩᠭᠣ sootoŋ guivaŋg 'sharp-eared guivang'	Цордон явлаг ᠴᠣᠷᠳᠣᠩ ᠶᠠᠪᠯᠠᠭ tsordoŋ yavlag 'smalltrumpet yavlag' (31, 32)	Mongolia formerly: Явлиг ууль ᠶᠠᠪᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ yavlig uul' 'yavlig owl' Other: Явлиг ᠶᠠᠪᠠᠯᠠᠭ yavlig 'yavlig' Явлаг ууль ᠶᠠᠪᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ yavlag uul' 'yavlag owl'	长耳鸮 (長耳鴞) cháng-ěr xiāo 'long-eared owl' Taiwan: (长耳鸮) 長耳鴞 cháng-ěr xiāo 'long-eared owl'	トラフズク (虎斑木菟) tora-fu zuku 'tiger-striped zuku'	칡부엉이 chirk-bueongi 'arrowroot (kudzu?) earedowl'	Құлақты жапалақ qulaqtı japalaq 'eared owl'	Kulaklı Orman Baykuşu 'eared forest sir ? bird'
Asio flammeus	Short-eared owl Болотная сова	Хулгар гуйванга ᠬᠣᠯᠣᠭᠠᠷ ᠭᠣᠢᠢᠪᠢᠩᠭᠣ khulgar guivaŋg 'short-eared guivang'	Хув явлаг ᠬᠣᠪᠣ ᠶᠠᠪᠠᠯᠠᠭ khuv yavlag 'earless yavlag' (31, 32)	Mongolia formerly: Гуйвангуу ууль ᠭᠣᠢᠢᠪᠢᠩᠭᠣ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ guivaŋguu uul' 'guivanguu owl' IM also: Гуйбанга ᠭᠣᠢᠢᠪᠠᠩᠭᠣ guivanga 'guivanga' (alt in 31) Other: Гуйвангуу ᠭᠣᠢᠢᠪᠢᠩᠭᠣ guivaŋguu 'guivanguu'	短耳鸮 (短耳鴞) duǎn-ěr xiāo 'short-eared owl' Taiwan: (短耳鸮) 短耳鴞 duǎn-ěr xiāo 'short-eared owl'	コミミズク (小木菟) ko mimi-zuku 'small eared-zuku'	쇠부엉이 soe-bueongi 'small earedowl'	Саз жапалақ saz japalaq 'marsh owl'	Kır Baykuşu 'greyish sir ? bird'
Strix
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Strix uralensis	Ural owl Ural wood owl Длиннохвостая неясыть, Уралская неясыть	Хув ууль ᠬᠣᠪᠣ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ huv uul' 'earless owl'	Хув бэгбаатар ᠬᠣᠪᠣ ᠪᠡᠭᠪᠠᠭᠠᠲᠣᠷ huv begbaatar 'earless beg-baatar' (baatar 'hero' = man's name) (32)	Mongolia formerly: Хув бэгбаатар ᠬᠣᠪᠣ ᠪᠡᠭ ᠪᠠᠭᠠᠲᠣᠷ huv begbaatar 'earless beg-baatar' (baatar 'hero' = man's name)	长尾林鸮 (長尾林鴞) cháng-wěi lín-xiāo 'long-tailed forest-owl'	フクロウ (梟) fukurō 'owl'	긴점박이올빼미 gin-jeombagi-olppaemi 'long dappled owl'	Кезқұйрық жапалақ kez-quyrıq japalaq 'long-tailed owl'
Strix nebulosa	Great grey owl Dark wood owl Бородатая неясыть	Угалзан ууль ᠣᠭᠠᠯᠵᠠᠨ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ ugalzaŋ uul' 'spiral-pattern owl'	Угалжин бэгбаатар ᠣᠭᠠᠯᠵᠢᠨ ᠪᠡᠭᠪᠠᠭᠠᠲᠣᠷ ugaljiŋ begbaatar 'spiral-pattern ? beg-baatar' (baatar 'hero' = man's name) (32)	Mongolia formerly: Угалзан бэгбаатар ᠣᠭᠠᠯᠵᠠᠨ ᠪᠡᠭ ᠪᠠᠭᠠᠲᠣᠷ ugalzaŋ begbaatar 'spiral-pattern beg-baatar' (baatar 'hero' = man's name)	乌林鸮 (烏林鴞) wū lín-xiāo 'dark forest-owl'	カラフトフクロウ (樺太梟) karafuto fukurō 'Sakhalin owl'		Сақалды жапалақ saqaldı japalaq 'bearded owl'
Bubo
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Bubo scandiacus Nyctea scandiaca	Snowy owl Белая сова, Полярная сова	Цагаан уульж ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢᠵᠢ (?) tsagaaŋ uul'j 'white owl (variant form)'	Цэвдгийн ууль ᠴᠡᠪᠲᠡᠭ ᠦᠨ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ  tsevdgiŋ uul' 'tundra owl' (32)	Mongolia formerly: Цэвдгийн ууль ᠴᠡᠪᠲᠡᠭ ᠦᠨ ᠣᠭᠣᠯᠢ  tsevdgiŋ uul' 'tundra owl'	雪鸮 (雪鴞) xuě-xiāo 'snow owl'	シロフクロウ (白梟) shiro-fukurō 'white owl'	흰올빼미 huin-olppaemi 'white owl'	Ақ жапалақ aq japalaq 'white owl'
Bubo bubo	Eurasian Eagle Owl Eurasian Eagle-owl Northern eagle owl Eagle owl Great Eagle Owl Филин, Обыкновенный филин	Эгэл шаршувуу ᠡᠬᠡᠯ ᠰᠢᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ egel shar-shuvuu 'common yellow-bird'	Шар шувуу ᠰᠢᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ shar shuvuu 'yellow bird' (32)	Mongolia formerly: Шар шувуу ᠰᠢᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ shar shuvuu 'yellow bird'	鵰鸮 (鵰鴞) diāo-xiāo 'eagle-owl'	ワシミミズク (鷲木菟) washi mimi-zuku 'eagle eared-zuku'	수리부엉이 suri-bueongi 'eagle earedowl'	Үкі üki 'eagleowl'	Puhu 'owl'

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