William Swainson first described the species in 1837 from a specimen collected in Senegal, and initially assigned it to the now defunct genus Scops.

It is typically greyish-brown, though sometimes pale rufous or warmer brown, and is cryptically marked with streaks and mottling.

[3] It ranges from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in elevation, and is found in wooded habitats and forest edge,[6] including in gardens and mangroves.

[8] When roosting in daylight, this species closes its eyes and extends its ear-tufts to give the impression of a tree branch, making it easily overlooked.

They normally hunt by scanning or listening from a perch and swooping down to capture prey on the ground, but will hawk for flying insects.