A medium-sized bird of prey, weighing in at around 780-930 g and a wingspan close to 150 cm. In flight it has a slender silhouette, with its long wings and forked tail, characteristic of the genus Milvus. Its plumage is a consistent brown, darker dorsally and slightly lighter ventrally, with light panels beneath the wings. Its head and neck has a greyish colouration. Juveniles present a darker head, browner tones and a more conspicuous distal part of the wing.