The Moluccan Scops Owl is active at night and has black-spotted plumage that occurs in several color forms.
Its upperparts have fine black spots, while the underside has black streaks and fine vermiculations. The belly is paler than the breast, and plumage occurs in buff, rufous, and brown forms.
It hides in the foliage of large trees by day, and pairs duet at dusk and during the night.
The eyes are yellow.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.