Owls play an important role in Slavic beliefs, especially those associated with death. In Poland, an owl’s call is rendered with two different verbal cries and interpreted in two ways: “Pu-u-u-ts!” is a warning of death, while “Ku-gu!” or “Po-viv!” imitates a child’s cry. These signs are also known in Belarus and Ukraine: “Skhovai, skhovai!” and “Spovii, spovii!”; they may point to either death or birth.

In Poland, the owl is called pdjdzka, pucka, рбгагва, or podzko. The little owl calls, “Ptjd’, pijd’!” [“Drop dead!”], and in Czechia, “Kott mit!” [“Let’s go!”].

— Gura. Animal Symbolism in Slavic Folk Tradition, p. 570