This small hawk occurs in Andean mountain forest and cloud forest. Its plumage is variable; one adult-male form in the guide has reddish-brown flanks and thighs.
It is about 25–33 cm long and polymorphic. One adult-male form in the field guide has brown-slate upperparts, a streaked throat, and rufous tones on the flanks and thighs.
It is associated with mountain-forest edges, cloud forest, and secondary scrub. The field guide gives a usual elevation range of about 800–2,700 m, with additional records outside that band.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.