Voice
A prolonged series of barbet-like whistles, 'hoop hoop hoop wup-wup-wup pupupupupu' and a quavering trill, increasing steadily in volume, 'wu u u u u u u u'. Also various squawks, barks and churrs.
Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides) [XC609672]
by Mary Simmonds from Nameri Eco Camp, Assam, India (call, trilling excitement calls)
Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides) [XC857476]
by Bram Piot from Green Climbers Home, Thakhek, Khammouane, Laos (call)
Subspecies
Possibly forms superspecies with Javan Owlet (Glaucidium castanopterum). Sometimes considered to include Javan Owlet (Glaucidium castanopterum) and Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum) as subspecies.
The following 8 subspecies are recognised:
cuculoides (Vigors, 1831) - Himalayas from north-eastern Pakistan and Kashmir east to western Sikkim.