This small buteo of the eastern forests has brown upperparts, a whitish throat, and rusty barring on the breast. The tail is broadly banded with black and white, with the central white band predominating. Juvenile birds have streaked breasts and thinner tail bands, with the black subterminal band predominating. Wings are pale underneath with a broad dark border on the trailing edge and look proportionally short and somewhat pointed in flight. Rare dark morph birds are brownish-black with silvery undersides to the flight feathers. The tail pattern is similar to that of light morph birds.

Length: 33 (cm) Wingspan: 81 (cm)

Voice:

A two-syllable peeweeeee on a single pitch.

Habitat:

Woodlands with open areas.

Behavior:

Often departs from northern breeding areas en masse with the arrival of the first major cold front of the season. Migratory flocks form kettles, spiral upward on thermals, and then peal off in a stream once they reach a certain altitude.

Feeding:

Usually hunts from a perch at forest edge. Eats insects, mammals, amphibians, and birds.