Taking into account speciation patterns within Otus and general phylogeographic patterns of montane birds on Borneo and Sumatra, both subspecies likely represent two distinct species; taxonomic studies will be required to confirm or deny this claim.
Considering the patterns of speciation within Otus and the broader phylogeographic trends among montane birds in Borneo and Sumatra, both subspecies are likely to represent two separate species; further taxonomic analysis will be necessary to validate or refute this assertion.