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) [XC560469]
by Sam Hambly from Protection forest, five point count on forest interior, Laos university demostration forest, Vientiane Prefecture, Laos (song)
Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides) [XC609667]
by Jelle Scharringa from Nameri Eco Camp, Assam, India (alarm call, call, trilling excitement calls)
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.