A Barred Jungle Owlet perching in a tree in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. This bird may grow up to 23 centimeters tall and is similar to the Asian Barred Owlet, which is slightly larger in size. Besides this, the Barred Jungle Owlet is more densely barred, as well as all-barred below.

It also has prominent dull rufous colouring on the flight feathers, and smaller white scapular markings than the Asian Barred Owlet.