The subspecies Aruban Burrowing Owl has a small body -about 20 cm (~7.9″) in length- with long legs and a flat facial disc typical of the owl family. The body is buffy-colored with the upper-parts being brown with white spots. Underparts are light brown to white with some brown spotting and barring. It is much paler than sub-species on the continent.

While the Aruba burrowing owl is not currently protected on Aruba, many conservation efforts are underway to ensure that it does not go extinct. The Aruba Birdlife Conservation foundation has been at the heart of conservation efforts. The foundation campaigned declared 2012 to be the year of the Choco and for the Aruban Burrowing Owl to be nominated as Aruba’s National Bird. The island’s terrestrial protected area, Parke Nacional Arikok, is also an important refuge where the population can recover.