A medium-sized hawk with yellow eyes and legs, gray-brown upperparts, and brown-barred underparts. It breeds in tall trees, riverine forest, thickets, woodland, and exotic plantations, but it has been known to wander widely from there into much more open country. During the breeding season it will soar high in the sky uttering a short sharp “chwik” call in aerial display; the call is given every 2–3 seconds for over a minute at a time. African Goshawk differs from the similar Red-chested Goshawk in having less white in the tail bands, less red on the chest, and barred thighs. Similarly-plumaged Little Sparrowhawk is much smaller.