[3] In addition, some authorities consider that the subspecies of sandy scops owl should be treated as two different species.

The adults are pale rufous brown, finely spotted with white and barred with buff.

The underparts are paler and more rufous with buff bars and white spots on the belly and vent.

The tail, flight feathers and greater upperwing coverts are rufous barred with black.

[6] The sandy scops owl has a scattered distribution across the African tropical rainforest ; it has been recorded from Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic.