Very large; dark-brown body of adult contrasts with pale head and nape. Similar to Golden Eagle but with a shorter tail and white shoulders that can be hard to spot. The underwings are dark with low contrast. Immatures are strikingly different, sandy brown with prominent streaks and a pale rump contrasting with the dark tail and dark flight feathers. Breeds in forested areas intermixed with steppes and agricultural areas, where often seen perched on pylons. Winters in open habitats, including cropland.