Identification
Small hawk of tropical forests, mainly in the lowlands, that overall looks a lot like a loosely built Sharp-shinned Hawk. Most frequently seen soaring in mid-late morning, singly or in pairs, with wings bowed down, tail closed, and puffy white feathering visible under the base of the tail—a distinctive combination of features. Rarely seen perched, but can be very tame. When perched, note 3 narrow white tail bands and a black stripe down the center of the throat. The cutting edge of the bill has a double notch (hence the name double-toothed) that is rarely visible.