Also known as the Masked Owl of Moluccas, a small to medium-sized Teto owl without ear hair. Data on sex weight differences are lacking, but females have much longer wings than males. The sexes are distinctly similar in plumage. They have a pale reddish-brown facial disc with a brown wash around the dark-brown eyes that extends to the base of the yellow creamy mouth. The upper part of the greyish-brown part has orange patches and black-edged white spots. The flight feathers and tail feathers are greyish brown to reddish brown with darker stripes. Below, the feathers are white, but rough spots with brown dots. Feathered feet are also white, with yellow-gray toes and black-brown paws. Undescribed juvenile.
A call consists of three quick screams in two seconds, or three or four slow screams, with higher pitches but more procrastination. Food and hunting unknown.
The habitat species is thought to live in primeval forests and take refuge in limestone caves, but there are no records of habitats where specimens were collected.
Status and distribution are endemic to the small Sanda and Moluccas islands, and this owl is little known. Only four birds were collected, each two from the Tambar Islands and Buru. It is clearly rare and endangered, but was recently photographed in Tanibal.
The classification of geographic variation is uncertain. Two subspecies have been described, based on four specimens, but the taxonomy and biology of this owl have been completely unprotected.
Similar species, the geographically separated Aust-Ralian masked owl is much larger. Smaller masked owls have deeper upper abdomen and stronger legs than the noticeably larger Australian masked owls. The wing cap contrasts with the paler secondary and minor caps. It has a reddish-brown face disc, a light ochre lower part and a white belly.