A medium to rather large owl without ear hair. Females are said to be larger than males, although only two weights of any sex are known. The crown and upper limbs are dark brown with some faint spots, the dark wings have narrow white bands, and the dark brown tail has about six narrow white bands and a white terminal band. The lower part is dull, pale yellow to white, with distinct reddish-brown to dark brown, except; The upper part of the breast has a broad brown band with a vaguely broken middle, dappled with white and yellow hues. The dough is dark brown with pronounced broad, white eyebrows and loral stripes, which form white "spec-tacles"; The white patch on the throat has a dark area at the edge and a white half collar underneath. The eyes are reddish brown to blackish brown, the mouth is pale yellow, and the brain is gray. The white to dark yellow legs are feathered, the light gray-brown toes are bare, and the claw tips are black. Teenager unknown.
An owl with yellow-brown eyebrows that emits a strong purr shorter than this. Emphasis is placed on the third note. In addition, low, low double-voice calls were recorded in Bolivia. Food and hunting have not been studied.
The habitat inhabits dense and humid mountain forests, preferably between 700m-1600m. Sometimes found in more open woodlands and at lower elevations. Status and distribution from southern Colombia to Bolivia, mainly east of the Andes. One hypothesized specimen from Colombia lacked location and date. This species may be at risk due to deforestation, but little is known about it. Geographic variant monotype. The partially overlapping spectacled owl of similar species has yellow eyes and no rusty fence on the abdomen. Other Pulsatrix owls are geographically separate.