A small, slender grayish hawk with a distinct hood and a white rump; resembles a miniature chanting-goshawk. A scarce dark (melanistic) form also occurs. In flight, note heavily barred underwings and tail. Pairs inhabit moist and arid savanna, where they terrorize small birds and other small vertebrates at waterholes. Distinctive piping repeated “peeii-peeii-peeii” and “teeui-teeui-teeui” are reminiscent of Water Thick-knee and different from other small hawks. Differs from other hawks as follows: Ovambo Sparrowhawk has a barred throat; Shikra has a white throat and red eye; Lizard Buzzard has a throat streak and distinctive tail banding; and chanting-goshawks are much larger.