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A medium size moth (forewing length about 35 mm) with dark blackish brown or reddish brown forewings crossed by darker antemedian and postmedian lines. The hindwings are dark brown. It can be separated from the very similar A. vancouverensis by the elongate hollow basal dash and claviform streak filled with brown scales (black filled in vancouverensis). It is also similar to and difficult to separate from Agrotis volubilis. Males of volubilis have pale whitish hindwings while those of obliqua are dark. Many specimens of vancouverensis and obliqua are difficult to separate, and are frequently found misidentified in collections.

Although this is not an uncommon moth, the life history is poorly known, and the immature stages and host plants are unknown. There is a single annual brood with adults in the spring and early summer. Adults are nocturnal and come to light.