It has an unmarked brown facial disk, rufous crown and back, barred white flight feathers and tail, and whitish underparts with rufous streaking.

Its call is repeated growling, like that of a frog.

It lives mainly in forests, but will appear in trees near humans, and will sometimes occupy riparian habitats.

It is fairly common throughout its limited range.

It is one of two species of owl on Manus Island.