Medium-sized brown raptor of montane habitats. Shows thick dark brown streaking on the underparts. In flight, the underside of the wing is streaked brown at the front and solidly white at the back, with a rim of black. Found in mountain forest and adjacent open habitats. Often soars. The call is a piercing whistle. Very similar to the migratory Common Buzzard, but never shows red in the tail, and always has a pattern of heavy dark brown streaks below.