All have a light facial disc with a distinct dark border, a blackish crown, and prominent "ear" tufts.

In the northern part of its range it is found from sea level to at least 600 m (2,000 ft) but in the south only to 300 m (980 ft)[4] The black-capped screech owl usually hunts in the forest canopy, scanning for prey from a perch, but it also frequently hunts in undergrowth.

[4] The black-capped screech owl's breeding season appears to include October and November, but has not been fully defined.

The black-capped screech owl's primary song is "a long fast trill, very faint before increasing in volume, [and] ending abruptly".

Both sexes sing in duet and the female's voice is higher pitched.