Adult Characteristics:
The adult bird’s head and neck are rufous-brown with a darker body. The upper back is dark brown. The median wing coverts are slightly lighter. The primary coverts and primary feathers are black, with a faint white tinge at the base of the inner vane. The innermost primary feathers gradually transition to gray, resembling the secondary feathers. The tail is faintly brown with darker brown barring. The breast is pale brown. The abdomen is brown, with a faint lighter stripe on each side. The undertail coverts are rufous-brown with thin black streaks along the feather shafts. The axillaries and underwings are brown with dark feather shafts.
Juvenile Characteristics:
The juvenile bird has a white streak below the eye and is dark brown. The upper back is brown. Males tend to be darker. The head feathers have broad rufous streaks, and all other feathers have lighter edges and tips with darker feather shafts. The abdominal area is brown with pale white or rufous streaks. The tail has more distinct horizontal bands. The eyes are brown. The beak is black. The base of the beak, the base of the mouth corner, and the base of the lower mandible are yellow or pale yellowish-green. The legs are pale yellow in juveniles, sometimes pale greenish-yellow.
Measurements:
- Wings (male): 420 – 475 mm, (female): 432 – 499 mm;
- Tail: 250 – 289 mm;
- Tarsus: 49 – 58 mm;
- Beak: 32 – 38 mm.
Distribution:
This hawk species is distributed in India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Indochina, and Malaya. In Vietnam, this hawk species is found in the central part of the Central Highlands and in Southern Vietnam.