[3] The band-bellied owl is fairly large, ranging from 44 to 48 cm (17 to 19 in) long.

Its upperparts are dark chocolate brown with scattered buffy-white spots.

The rest of the underparts are white to creamy with reddish brown barring.

[5] The nominate subspecies of band-bellied owl is found on the eastern slope of the Andes from central Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru.

[5] Though there is no published information on the band-bellied owl's breeding phenology, it is presumed to nest in natural tree cavities.