A large owl; 40-43 cm TL. Head and neck: Face brown; crown and nape brown with broad dark brown streaks; ear tuft short; skin around eye black; eye bright yellow; bill dark grey at base, light yellowish grey at tip; hair-like feathers (bristles) around base of bill light brown with black tip.
Body: Back and wing brown with dark brown edges; breast and abdomen light brown with broad dark brown streaks.
Limbs and tail: Legs and feet light yellowish brown; tail short, brown.