Strigidae
Họ Cú mèo

General

The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections welcome. Malaysian names are now being updated. For consistency, Vietnamese bird names (except for ducks and chickens) are preceded by the word Chim meaning 'bird'. Ornithological lists mostly omit this as understood. 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 Vietnamese, the general word for owl is Chim cú. Scops owls are known as Chim cú mèo 'cat owl bird' or Chim mèo 'cat bird'. Owlets are called Chim vọ or Chim cú vọ. Generalist dictionaries also list Chim hào as a word for 'owl'. The term Chim ụt, defined in dictionaries only as an 'ugly nocturnal bird', appears to also refer to the owls.

Ornithologists use the following terminology for owls.

Vietnamese name	Genera
Cú mèo ('cat owl (bird)')	Scops Owls (Otus)
Dù dì	Eagle Owl (Bubo) Fish Owls (Ketupa)
Hù (Unmarked refers to Strix leptogrammica)	Wood Owls (Strix) Owlets (Athene)
Cú vọ (Unmarked refers to Glaucidium cuculoides)	Owlets (Glaucidium) Hawk Owl (Ninox)
Cú lửa ('fire owl (bird)')	Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

The terms Chim Dù dì (eagle owls and fish owls) and Chim Hù (wood owls) appear to be quite specialised. They are not found in ordinary dictionaries.

Vietnamese has a couple of expressions that are rather unflattering to owls:

Xấu như cú 'ugly as an owl' = very ugly.

Hôi như cú 'stink like an owl' = stinky.

Species names

IERAGLAUCINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		VIETNAMESE		EAST ASIAN		S. E. ASIAN
Ninox
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Ninox japonica	Northern Boobook Ninoxe boréale	Ninox scutulata: Chim Cú vọ lưng nâu 'brown-backed vọ owl (bird)' (Shared with Ninox scutulata) (12, 13, 34)		北鹰鸮 (北鷹鴞) běi yīng-xiāo 'northern hawk-owl' (Avibase) Taiwan: Ninox scutulata: (褐鹰鸮) 褐鷹鴞 hè yīng-xiāo 'brown hawk-owl'	Ninox scutulata: アオバズク (青葉木菟) ao-ba zuku 'green-leaf zuku' (Shared with Ninox scutulata)	นกเค้าเหยี่ยวพันธุ์เหนือ nók kʰáw-yìaw pʰan nĕua 'northern species hawk-owl (bird)'
Ninox scutulata	Brown Boobook Brown Hawk-owl Brown Hawk Owl Northern Boobook Ninoxe hirsute	Chim Cú vọ lưng nâu 'brown-backed vọ owl (bird)' (Shared with Ninox japonica) (12, 13, 34)		鹰鸮 (鷹鴞) yīng-xiāo 'hawk-owl'	アオバズク (青葉木菟) ao-ba zuku 'green-leaf zuku' (Shared with Ninox japonica)	นกเค้าเหยี่ยว nók kʰáw-yìaw 'hawk-owl (bird)'	Burung Pungguk 'hawkowl (bird)' (26) Burung Hantu Betamak 'brownhawkowl ghost-bird' (24) Burung Hantu Betemak 'brownhawkowl ghost-bird' (25)	Burung Pungguk Coklat 'brown hawkowl (bird)'
SURNIINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		VIETNAMESE		EAST ASIAN		S. E. ASIAN
Glaucidium
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Glaucidium brodiei	Collared owlet Collared pigmy owlet Cuckoo owl Chevêchette à collier	Chim Cú vọ mặt trắng 'white-faced vọ owl (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		领鸺鹠 (領鵂鶹) lǐng xiū-liú 'collared owlet' Taiwan: (鸺鹠) 鵂鶹 xiū-liú 'owlet'	ヒメフクロウ (姫梟) hime fukurō 'princess owl'	นกเค้าแคระ nók kʰáw kʰráe 'pygmy owl (bird)'	Burung Pungguk Kerdil 'dwarf hawkowl (bird)' (26) Burung Hantu Kerdil 'dwarf ghost-bird' (24) Burung Hantu Kecil 'small ghost-bird' (25)	Burung Beluk-watu Gunung 'mountain rock-owl (bird)'
Glaucidium cuculoides	Asian barred owlet Cuckoo owlet Barred owlet Chevêchette cuculoïde	Chim Cú vọ 'vọ owl (bird)' (12, 13)	Chim Cú vọ đầu vạch 'line-headed vọ owl (bird)' (34)	斑头鸺鹠 (斑頭樇鶹) bān-tóu xiū-liú 'stripe-headed owlet'	オオスズメフクロウ (大雀梟) ō suzume fukurō 'large sparrow owl'	นกเค้าโมง nók kʰáw mooŋ 'mooŋ owl (bird)' (probably onomat.) or นกเค้าแมว nók kʰáw-maeew 'cat (=mewing) owl (bird)'
Athene
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Athene brama	Spotted owlet Spotted little owl Chevêche brame	Chim Hù trán trắng 'white-foreheaded woodowl (bird)' (onomat.) (12)	Chim Cú trán trắng 'white-foreheaded owl (bird)' (onomat.) (34)	横斑腹小鸮 (橫斑腹小鴞) héng-bān-fù xiǎo-xiāo 'horizontal-stripe-bellied small owl'	インドコキンメフクロウ (インド小金目梟) indo ko kinme fukurō 'Indian small golden-eyed owl'	นกเค้าจุด nók kʰáw cùt 'spotted owl (bird)'
STRIGINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		THAI		OTHER S. E. ASIAN			EAST ASIAN
Otus
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Otus spilocephalus	Mountain scops owl Mountain scops-owl Spotted scops owl Petit-duc tacheté	Chim Cú mèo Latusơ 'Latouche cat owl (bird)' (12) Chim Cú mèo mỏ vàng 'yellow-billed cat owl (bird)' (34)		黄嘴角鸮 (黃嘴角鴞) huáng-zuǐ jiǎo-xiāo 'yellow-billed horned-owl' Taiwan: (黃嘴角鸮) 黃嘴角鴞 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'	นกเค้าภูเขา nók kʰáw pʰuu-kʰăw 'mountain owl (bird)'	Burung Jampuk Gunung 'mountain owl (bird)' (26) Burung Hantu Gunung 'mountain ghost-bird' (24, 25)	Burung Celepuk Gunung 'mountain scopsowl (bird)'
Otus sunia	East Asian scops owl East Asian scops-owl Petit-duc d'Orient	Chim Cú mèo nhỏ 'small cat owl (bird)' (12, 13)	Chim Cú mèo phương Đông 'eastern cat owl (bird)' (34)		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'	นกเค้าหูยาวเล็ก nók kʰáw hŭu-yaaw lék 'small long-eared owl (bird)'	Burung Jampuk Kecil 'small owl (bird)' (26) Burung Kuang Kuik 'kuang kuik bird (onomat.)' (Cf cuckooshrike) (24, 25)	Burung Celepuk Asia 'Asian scopsowl (bird)'
Otus bakkamoena	Collared scops owl Petit-duc à collier	Otus lempiji (12),Otus lettia (34): Chim Cú mèo khoang cổ 'streak-necked cat owl (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Otus lempiji (Otus bakkamoena): Chim Cú Mã Lai 'Malay cat owl (bird)' (alt in 34)	领角鸮 (領角鴞) lǐng jiǎo-xiāo 'collared horned-owl' Taiwan: (领角鸮) 領角鴞 lǐng jiǎo-xiāo 'collared horned-owl'	オオコノハズク (大木の葉木菟) ō ko-no-ha zuku 'large tree-leaf zuku'	Otus lettia: นกเค้ากู่ nók kʰáw kùu 'calling owl (bird)' or นกฮูก nók hûuk 'owl (onomat.) (bird)'	Otus lempiji: Burung Jampuk Kubur 'grave owl (bird)' (26) Otus bakkamoena: Burung Hantu Reban 'poultrypen ghost-bird' (24, 25)	Burung Celepuk Reban 'poultrypen scopsowl (bird)'
Asio
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Asio flammeus	Short-eared owl Hibou des marais	Chim Cú lửa 'fire owl (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		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'	นกเค้าแมวหูสั้น nók kʰáw maeew hŭu-sân 'short-eared cat (=mewing) owl (bird)'	Burung Hantu Sayap Panjang 'long-winged ghost-bird' (26) Burung Hantu Tuli 'deaf ghost-bird' (24, 25)
Strix
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Strix seloputo	Spotted wood owl Spotted wood-owl Chouette des pagodes	Chim Hù Phương đông 'eastern woodowl (bird)' (onomat.) (12)	Chim Hù chấm 'spotted woodowl (bird)' (onomat.) (34)	点斑林鸮 (點斑林鴞) diǎn bān lín-xiāo 'spotted forest-owl'	マレーモリフクロウ (マレー森梟) marē mori fukurō 'Malay forest-owl'	นกเค้าป่าหลังจุด nók kʰáw-pàa lăng-cùt 'spot-backed forest-owl (bird)'	Burung Hantu Berbintik 'speckled ghost-bird' (26) Burung Hantu Carik-kafan 'shroud-tatters ghost-bird' (kafan or kapan from Arabic) (24) Burung Hantu Carik Kafan 'shroud-tatters ghost-bird' (kafan or kapan from Arabic) (25)	Burung Kukuk Selaputo 'spottedwoodowl kukuk (bird)' (onomat.) (Latin species name is from Malay)
Strix leptogrammica	Brown wood owl Brown wood-owl Chouette leptogramme	Chim Hù 'woodowl (bird)' (onomat.) (12)	Chim Hù nâu 'brown woodowl (bird)' (onomat.) (34) or Chim Hù lào 'Laotian (?) woodowl (bird)' (onomat.) (34)	褐林鸮 (褐林鴞) hè lín-xiāo 'brown forest-owl' Taiwan: (褐林鸮) 褐林鴞 hè lín-xiāo 'brown forest-owl'	オオフフクロウ (大斑梟) ō fu fukurō 'large striped owl'	นกเค้าป่าสีน้ำตาล nók kʰáw-pàa sĭi-nám-taan 'brown forest-owl (bird)'	Burung Hantu Rimba 'jungle ghost-bird' (26) Burung Hantu Punggor 'deadstump ghost-bird' (24) Burung Hantu Punggur 'deadstump ghost-bird' (25)	Burung Kukuk Beluk 'owl kukuk (bird)' (onomat.)
Strix aluco	Tawny owl Eurasian tawny owl Tawny wood owl Chouette hulotte	Chim Hù nivicon 'nivicola woodowl (bird)' (onomat.) (12) Chim Hù xám 'grey woodowl (bird)' (onomat.) (34)		灰林鸮 (灰林鴞) huī lín-xiāo 'grey forest-owl' Taiwan: (灰林鸮) 灰林鴞 huī lín-xiāo 'grey forest-owl'	モリフクロウ (森梟) mori fukurō 'forest-owl'
Bubo
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Bubo nipalensis	Spot-bellied Eagle Owl Spot-bellied Eagle-owl Forest eagle owl Grand-duc du Népal	Chim Dù dì Nêpan 'Nepalese dudi bird' (12, 34)		Ictinaetus malayensis: 林鵰鸮 (林鵰鴞) lín diāo-xiāo 'forest eagle-owl'	ネパールワシミミズク (ネパール鷲木菟) nepaaru washi mimi-zuku 'Nepalese eagle eared-zuku'	นกเค้าใหญ่พันธุ์เนปาล nók kʰáw-yày pʰan nee-paan 'Nepalese species large-owl (bird)'
Ketupa
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Ketupa zeylonensis	Brown fish owl Brown fish-owl Kétoupa brun	Chim Dù dì Phương đông 'eastern dudi bird' (12, 13, 34)		褐渔鸮 (褐漁鴞) hè yú-xiāo 'brown fishing-owl'	カッショクウオミミズク (褐色魚木菟) kasshoku uo mimi-zuku 'brown fish eared-zuku'	นกทึดทือพันธุ์เหนือ nók tʰéut-tʰeuu pʰan nĕua 'northern species tʰéut-tʰeuu bird' (onomat.)	Burung Tumbuk Ketampi Rimba 'jungle fishowl striking bird' (26) Burung Hantu Ikan 'fish ghost-bird' (24, 25)
Ketupa flavipes	Tawny fish owl Tawny fish-owl Kétoupa roux	Chim Dù dì hung 'reddish dudi bird' (12, 34)		黄腿渔鸮 (黃腿漁鴞) huáng-tuǐ yú-xiāo 'yellow legged fishing-owl' (2, 4, 5) 黄脚渔鸮 (黃腳漁鴞) huáng-jiǎo yú-xiāo 'yellow-legged fishing-owl' (1, 3) Taiwan: (黃鱼鸮) 黄魚鴞 huáng yú-xiāo 'yellow fish-owl'	ウオミミズク (魚木菟) uo mimi-zuku 'fish eared-zuku'
Ketupa ketupu	Buffy fish owl Buffy fish-owl Malay fish owl Kétoupa malais	Chim Dù dì Kêtupu 'kêtupu dudi bird' (12)	Chim Dù dì ketupu 'ketupu dudi bird' (34)	马来渔鸮 (馬來漁鴞) mǎlái yú-xiāo 'Malay fishing-owl'	マレーウオミミズク (マレー魚木菟) marē uo mimi-zuku 'Malay fish eared-zuku'	นกทึดทือพันธุ์มลายู nók tʰéut-tʰeuu pʰan ma-laa-yuu 'Malayan species tʰéut-tʰeuu (bird)' (onomat.)	Burung Tumbuk Ketampi 'fishowl striking bird' (26) Burung Hantu Kuning 'yellow ghost-bird' (24, 25)	Burung Beluk Ketupa 'fishowl owl bird' (Latin names are from Malay)

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

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

Senarai Nama-nama Burung Semenanjung Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Perhilitan (Jabatam Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara, Semenanjung Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 1981
(List of the Names of Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Southeast Asia by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 1981)

The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 1 - Non-passerines by Wells, David R., Academic Press, London 1999

A Field Guide to the Birds of West Malaysia and Singapore by Jeyarajasingam, Allen and Alan Pearson, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1999

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