Small black-and-white eagle. Has a compact, powerful shape and the hint of a crest. The upperparts are black and the underparts very white except for black flanks. In flight, the front of the underside of the wing is solidly black. Found in humid forest. Secretive; rarely soars. Calls include a loud, repeated “kwe-kwe-yaaa” and a simple rising whistle. Similar to other hawk-eagles, but lacks streaking or spotting on the underparts. Easily separated in flight, when Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle shows a solid black patch across the front of the underwing.