

Sexes alike; there are two color phases, gray and red. Both gray and red phase owls have prominent ear tufts, when raised (when flattened, their heads appear roundish); in both phases eyes are yellow and bills are pale. The facial disks in both phases are outlined in black, and both show two rows of white wing spotting and lightly banded tails.
Gray phase: Ash-gray, or gray-brown, above with heavy, dark streaks and crossbars. Underparts lighter, also with darker vertical and horizontal patterning. Grayish facial disks.
Red phase: Plain rufous above without the heavy markings found in the gray phase. Underparts are creamish with rufous crossbars and dark vertical streaking. Rufous facial disks.
Immature in both phases initially covered with white down. Gray or red coloring follows with darker horizontal barring without streaks.
Vocalizations include descending whinny or sharp bouncing ball sound on one pitch.