This screech-owl ranges from Mexico to northern Nicaragua. Greyish and reddish morphs occur, and it uses humid as well as drier forests and woodland from low to mid elevations.
Both greyish and reddish morphs occur. The underside is paler than the upperparts, with black shaft streaks and cross-markings, and a row of white spots crosses the shoulder. The eyes are orange-yellow and the bill is greenish.
It inhabits humid and drier forests and woodland from lowlands to mid elevations. The species account therefore does not restrict it to deep, wet forest.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.