also: つく
Refers to any owl with horn-like ear tufts, such as the long-eared owl or eagle owl. Often used in contrast with ミミズク, which specifically refers to the horned owl species.
See also: ミミズク
Zuku is a general term for owls that have ear-like tufts.
I heard the call of a horned owl in the forest at night.
Eurasian eagle owl
short-eared owl
long-eared owl; northern long-eared owl
brown hawk owl
Japanese scops-owl
Eurasian scops owl
great horned owl
screech owl (Otus asio)
Katakana spelling is common for this bird name; the word is usually written in kana.
Rare kanji spelling; 木菟 is a non-standard or literary form for this word.
Rare kanji spelling; 木兎 is a non-standard or literary form for this word.
Obsolete kana usage; historical reading.
The origin is uncertain. The word may be related to the sound made by these owls or to an old Japanese root. The kanji forms 木菟 and 木兎 are rare and likely ateji.