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) [XC802415]
by Tiantian Zhao \u8d75\u5929\u5929 from Hat Kanxa, Vientiane Prefecture, Laos (begging call)
Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium) [XC243504]
by Peter Boesman from Nameri Eco Camp, Potasali, Assam, India (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.