It has a brown facial disk surrounded by ochre, a white chin patch, and creamy "brows" over chestnut-brown eyes.

The juvenile is initially almost entirely white and gradually attains adult plumage over several years.

[5] The tawny-browed owl is found in Brazil from Espírito Santo state south to northern Rio Grande do Sul and the immediately adjacent areas of eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.

The clutch size is usually two, laid in a tree cavity, and incubated by the female.

It occurs in some protected areas, but its Atlantic Forest habitat has been much reduced and fragmented.