Strigidae
鴟鴞科
chī-xiāo kē

General

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The ordinary popular name for owls of all sorts, especially owls with 'ears', is 貓頭鷹 māo-tóu-yīng 'cat-headed hawk'.

This term does not figure at all in the Chinese ornithological names. Instead, most of the owls are known by the literary name 鴞 xiāo. (While of literary origin, the term 鴞鳥 xiāo-niǎo 'owl-bird' may also occasionally be seen in modern contexts). Specific names for owl genera include:

• Scops owls: 角鴞 jiǎo-xiāo 'horned-owl'
• Wood owls: 林鴞 lín-xiāo 'forest-owl'
• Fish owls: 漁鴞 yú-xiāo 'fishing-owl'
• Hawk owls: 鷹鴞 yīng-xiāo 'hawk-owl'
• Owlets: 小鴞 xiǎo-xiāo 'small owl'
• Long-eared / Short-eared Owl: 長耳鴞 cháng-ěr xiāo 'long-eared owl' / 短耳鴞 duǎn-ěr xiāo 'short-eared owl'

Owlets in the genus Glaucidium are known by another ancient name, 鵂鶹 xiū-liú.

Chinese terms for owls have interesting backgrounds in ancient texts:

鴞 xiāo referred to the owls.
梟 xiāo also referred to owls, with an associated legend that they were evil birds that ate their own mothers. The character 梟 xiāo is used in number of expressions related to ferocity and bravery.
鴟鴞 chī-xiāo, the name now used for the Strigidae, also referred to evil birds believed to correspond to members of the owl family. It may also be written 鴟梟 chī-xiāo.
Incidentally, the 鴟 chī in 鴟鴞 chī-xiāo (or 鴟梟 chī-xiāo) referred to the sparrow hawks, not to the owls.

Species names

IERAGLAUCINAE
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			JAPANESE		OTHER
Ninox
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Ninox japonica	Northern Boobook	Ninox scutulata: 褐鷹鴞 (褐鹰鸮) hè yīng-xiāo 'brown hawk-owl'	(北鷹鴞) 北鹰鸮 běi yīng-xiāo 'northern hawk-owl' (Avibase)	醬色鷹鴞 (酱色鹰鸮) jiàng-sè yīng-xiāo 'soy-coloured hawk-owl' (FS) 青葉鴞 (青叶鸮) qīng-yè-xiāo 'green/blue-leafed owl' (see Japanese) (FS) 烏貓王 (乌猫王) wū-māo-wáng 'dark (or crow) cat king' (FS) 鷂形貓王 (鹞形猫王) yào-xíng-māo-wáng 'sparrowhawk-shaped cat king' (FS)	アオバズク (青葉木菟) ao-ba zuku 'green-leaf zuku' (Shared with Ninox scutulata)		솔부엉이 sol-bueongi 'pine earedowl'	Ninox scutulata: Chim Cú vọ lưng nâu 'brown-backed vọ owl (bird)' (Shared with Ninox scutulata) (12, 13, 34)
SURNIINAE
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			JAPANESE		OTHER
Glaucidium
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Glaucidium brodiei	Collared owlet Collared pigmy owlet Cuckoo owl	鵂鶹 (鸺鹠) xiū-liú 'owlet'	(領鵂鶹) 领鸺鹠 lǐng xiū-liú 'collared owlet'	小鴞 (小鸮) xiǎo xiāo 'small owl' 衣領小鴞 (衣领小鸮) yī-lǐng xiǎo xiāo '(clothing)-collared small owl' (FS)	ヒメフクロウ (姫梟) hime fukurō 'princess owl'			Chim Cú vọ mặt trắng 'white-faced vọ owl (bird)' (12, 13, 34)
Athene
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Athene noctua Athene noctus	Little owl	縱紋腹小鴞 (纵纹腹小鸮) zòng-wén-fù xiǎo-xiāo 'vertical-pattern-bellied small owl'	(縱紋腹小鴞) 纵纹腹小鸮 zòng-wén-fù xiǎo-xiāo 'vertical-pattern-bellied small owl'	小鴞 (小鸮) xiǎo xiāo 'small owl' (FS) 東方小鴞 (东方小鸮) dōng-fāng xiǎo xiāo 'eastern small owl' (FS) 北方貓王鳥 (北方猫王鸟) běi-fāng māo-wáng-niǎo 'northern cat king bird' (FS) 禿思怪 (秃思怪) tū-sī-guài 'bald think-strange?'	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'
STRIGINAE
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			JAPANESE		OTHER
Otus
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Otus spilocephalus	Mountain scops owl Mountain scops-owl Spotted scops owl	黃嘴角鴞 (黃嘴角鸮) huáng-zuǐ jiǎo-xiāo 'yellow-billed horned-owl'	(黄嘴角鴞) 黃嘴角鸮 huáng-zuǐ jiǎo-xiāo 'yellow-billed horned-owl'		タイワンコノハズク (台湾木の葉木菟) taiwan ko-no-ha zuku 'Taiwanese tree-leaf zuku'			Chim Cú mèo Latusơ 'Latouche cat owl (bird)' (12) Chim Cú mèo mỏ vàng 'yellow-billed cat owl (bird)' (34)
Otus sunia	East Asian scops owl East Asian scops-owl	東方角鴞 (东方角鸮) dōngfāng jiǎo-xiāo 'eastern horned-owl'	(紅角鴞) 红角鸮 hóng jiǎo-xiāo 'red horned-owl' (1, 2, 4, 5) (東方角鴞) 东方角鸮 dōngfāng jiǎo-xiāo 'eastern horned-owl' (3)	Taiwan formerly: 角鴞 (角鸮) jiǎo-xiāo 'horned-owl' 棒槌雀 (棒槌雀) bàngchuí què 'wooden club (=blockheaded) sparrow' 普通鴞 (普通鸮) pǔtōng xiāo 'common owl' 夜貓子 (夜猫子) yè māozi 'night-cat' (FS) 聒聒鳥子 (聒聒鸟子) guō-guō-niǎo 'noisy bird' (northern) (FS)	コノハズク (木の葉木菟) ko-no-ha zuku 'tree-leaf zuku'		소쩍새 sojjeok-sae 'scopsowl-bird'	Chim Cú mèo nhỏ 'small cat owl (bird)' (12, 13)
Otus elegans	Riukiu scops owl Elegant scops-owl	蘭嶼角鴞 (兰屿角鸮) lányǔ jiǎo-xiāo 'Lanyu horned-owl'	(蘭嶼角鴞) 兰屿角鸮 lányǔ jiǎo-xiāo 'Lanyu horned-owl' (2, 3, 4) (琉球角鴞) 琉球角鸮 liúqiú jiǎo-xiāo 'Ryukyu horned-owl' (alt in 1, 5)		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)
Otus bakkamoena	Collared scops owl	領角鴞 (领角鸮) lǐng jiǎo-xiāo 'collared horned-owl'	(領角鴞) 领角鸮 lǐng jiǎo-xiāo 'collared horned-owl'	毛腳樇鶹 (毛脚鸺留) máo-jiǎo xiūliū 'hairy-legged owlet' (FS) 光足樇鶹 (光足鸺留) guāng-zú xiūliū 'bare-legged owlet' (FS)	オオコノハズク (大木の葉木菟) ō ko-no-ha zuku 'large tree-leaf zuku'		큰소쩍새 keun-sojjeok-sae 'large scopsowl-bird'	Otus lempiji (12),Otus lettia (34): Chim Cú mèo khoang cổ 'streak-necked cat owl (bird)' (12, 13, 34)
Asio
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Asio otus	Long-eared owl	長耳鴞 (长耳鸮) cháng-ěr xiāo 'long-eared owl'	(長耳鴞) 长耳鸮 cháng-ěr xiāo 'long-eared owl'	長耳貓頭鷹 (长耳猫头鹰) cháng-ěr māo-tóu-yīng 'long-eared cat-headed hawk' 夜貓子 (夜猫子) yè māozi 'night-cat' 長耳木兔 (长耳木兔) cháng-ěr mù-tù 'long-eared tree-rabbit' (northern) (FS, 31) 有耳麥貓王 (有耳麦猫王) yǒu ěr mài māo-wáng 'eared grain cat king' (southern) (FS) 虎兔鳥 (虎兔鸟) 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)	トラフズク (虎斑木菟) tora-fu zuku 'tiger-striped zuku'		칡부엉이 chirk-bueongi 'arrowroot (kudzu?) earedowl'
Asio flammeus	Short-eared owl	短耳鴞 (短耳鸮) duǎn-ěr xiāo 'short-eared owl'	(短耳鴞) 短耳鸮 duǎn-ěr xiāo 'short-eared owl'	短耳貓頭鷹 (短耳猫头鹰) 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) 田貓王 (田猫王) tián māo-wáng 'field cat king' (southern) (FS) 倉鴞 (仓鸮) cāng-xiāo 'barn owl' (FS) 梟兔 (枭兔) xiāo-tù 'owl-rabbit' (dict) (FS)	コミミズク (小木菟) ko mimi-zuku 'small eared-zuku'		쇠부엉이 soe-bueongi 'small earedowl'	Chim Cú lửa 'fire owl (bird)' (12, 13, 34)
Strix
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Strix leptogrammica	Brown wood owl Brown wood-owl	褐林鴞 (褐林鸮) hè lín-xiāo 'brown forest-owl'	(褐林鴞) 褐林鸮 hè lín-xiāo 'brown forest-owl'	木鴞 (木鸮) mù xiāo 'wood owl' (FS) 森鴞 (森鸮) sēn xiāo 'forest owl' (FS) 山崖 (山崖) shān yá 'mountain cliff' (FS)	オオフフクロウ (大斑梟) ō fu fukurō 'large striped owl'			Chim Hù 'woodowl (bird)' (onomat.) (12)
Strix aluco	Tawny owl Eurasian tawny owl Tawny wood owl	灰林鸮 (灰林鴞) huī lín-xiāo 'grey forest-owl'	(灰林鴞) 灰林鸮 huī lín-xiāo 'grey forest-owl'	森鴞 (森鸮) sēn xiāo 'forest owl' (dict) (FS) 木鴞 (木鸮) mù xiāo 'wood owl' (FS)	モリフクロウ (森梟) mori fukurō 'forest-owl'		올빼미 olppaemi 'owl'	Chim Hù nivicon 'nivicola woodowl (bird)' (onomat.) (12) Chim Hù xám 'grey woodowl (bird)' (onomat.) (34)
Ketupa
Latin	English	Chinese (Taiwan)	Chinese (Mainland)	Other Ch	Japanese	Other J	Korean	Vietnamese
Ketupa flavipes	Tawny fish owl Tawny fish-owl	黃魚鴞 (黄鱼鸮) huáng yú-xiāo 'yellow fish-owl'	(黄腿漁鴞) 黄腿渔鸮 huáng-tuǐ yú-xiāo 'yellow legged fishing-owl' (2, 4, 5) (黄腳漁鴞) 黄脚渔鸮 huáng-jiǎo yú-xiāo 'yellow-legged fishing-owl' (1, 3)	毛腳魚鴞 (毛脚鱼鸮) máo-jiǎo yú-xiāo 'hair-legged fish-owl' (7, mistake for K. blakistoni above?)	ウオミミズク (魚木菟) uo mimi-zuku 'fish eared-zuku'			Chim Dù dì hung 'reddish dudi bird' (12, 34)

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

中国鸟类分布名录 第二版 郑作新 科学出版社 北京 1976年
(Checklist of the Classification of Birds of China 2nd edition by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 1976)

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

Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999

Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000

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

Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009