The African hawk-eagle is a medium sized bird that has a white chest and underside. The base of the tail feathers and the mid-section of the wings’ underside are also white in colour. The tips of the tail and the wings as well as the base of the wings and the top of its body are all black. It has black vertical stripes on its white chest. Immature African hawk-eagles are much lighter than adults, with their colours being light brown and white.