A ground owl; limbs long in appearance; 32-38 cm TL; 360-582 g. Head and neck: face distinct heart-shaped, white; crown greyish brown with small white spots; neck light brown with small dark brown spots; eye dark brown; bill pinkish white.
Body: Back and wing greyish brown with small white spots; wing coverts and flight feathers combination of brown and greyish brown, forming wing bars; breast and abdomen light brown with dark brown spots.
Limbs and tail: Legs and feet white with dark greyish brown scales; tail white with 5 to 6 greyish brown bars.