It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.

[3] [4] As of 2019, the International Ornithological Committee (IOC), the North and South American Classification Committees of the American Ornithological Society (AOS), and the Clements taxonomy treat it as a separate species, Megascops roraimae.

The Clements taxonomy recognizes two more, M. r. helleri and M. r. bolivianus, that the IOC includes within napensis.

The intensity of the reddish cast varies among the subspecies as do the amount and pattern of streaks and spots on the upperparts and vermiculation on the underparts.

It is assumed to nest in tree cavities, either natural or made by another bird, like others of its genus.