This owl is recorded in southern Brazil, northern Uruguay and northeastern Argentina. In Corrientes, Argentina, the first documented provincial records were reported in 2022.
It is about 22.5–28 cm long, with males smaller than females in the WikiAves account. Brown, grey and rufous plumage forms occur; the breast and belly have fine bars and dark streaks. Long ear tufts alone do not reliably distinguish it from related owls; the female voice is useful for identification.
It is nocturnal and takes insects, spiders and small vertebrates. A Corrientes survey documented three birds responding vocally at two streamside sites on 8 April 2022.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.