Medium-sized raptor of montane forests. Adult is dark brownish-black above and has heavily black-streaked white underparts. Flying adult shows broad, rounded wings and a single broad white band on the tail. Lacks the overall buffy brown tones of the much smaller adult Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle. Immature is very similar to Wallace’s but has thinner tail barring; immatures are best distinguished by altitude (Blyth’s favors higher elevations than Wallace’s) and size. Small crest is not visible in flight but may be held erect when perched.