It was previously known as a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl, but was reclassified in 2012, as voice and other evidence suggested it was a distinct species.

EBird describes the bird as "A fairly small owl of forest on the Sulu Islands.

It is distinguished by the heavy barring on its head and belly, white throat-patch and facial disk.

It is medium-sized at 20 cm tall, along with the Mindoro boobook within Philippine hawk-owl species complex.

[5] Its habitat is in tropical moist lowland primary and secondary forests up to 700 meters above sea level.