Male plumage tends to be lighter than females. The eyes are golden yellow, encircled by black feathers that are set in an orange-brown facial disk. The bill is black. The forehead and lores are mottled grey and white and there is a white chin patch. The legs and feet are heavily feathered.
Juveniles are similar to adults but less heavily marked.
The head tufts are shorter and less defined and facial disk darker. Body feathers are tipped with greyish white. Long-eared Owls are buoyant fliers, appearing to glide noiselessly even when their wings are flapping. They are very maneuverable and can fly through fairly dense brush. They fly moth-like, often hovering and fluttering while looking for prey.