A relatively small owl, though larger than most scops-owls. Mostly pale gray, with a white face set off by black borders and yellow-orange eyes. Found in dry savanna habitats, where it often spends the day roosting on surprisingly open perches. Very similar to Southern White-faced Owl and best separated by call, but there is little or no overlap in range. The call is a quiet, two-parted “huu-hoooo.”