Rather large raptor, mostly black above and white below. Note the mostly white tail with a broad dark band, and the black-and-white bars on the flight feathers. A range-restricted species of the northeast Atlantic forest. Often attracts attention by its call, a series of repetitive “kua-kua-kua-kua” notes given in a spectacular display flight. Adults of the similar Gray-headed Kite have a gray throat, dark gray back of neck, barred black-and-white underwing, and two dark bars on the tail. Immatures have a different underwing and tail pattern.