Chunky buzzard with a reddish tail. The color of the underparts varies: they are normally white, but can be completely black. Immature is brown on the back and pale below. Found in hilly and mountainous terrain, in a wide variety of habits including semi-desert, savanna, woodland, grassland, heath, and tree plantations. Call is a short, emphatic yelp. Distinctive across most of its range, but can be confused with Jackal Buzzard in the small area of overlap. Separated there by the pale underwing.