Although not classed as endangered, this species in not commonly found in the wild, and so little is known about this species. There are fourteen subspecies throughout its vast range, which includes Asia, India, Sri Lanka, China, and Indonesia. They are part of the Strix genus, known as the ‘wood owl’ family, and are closely related to the Tawny owl found in the UK. They are often referred to as the ‘Asian brown wood owl’ or ‘Malaysian brown wood owl’.