This small raptor inhabits humid forest from Central America into northwestern South America. It uses the understory and lower canopy and rarely ventures into open areas.
Adults are slate gray above and white below. The black tail has a white band, and the cere and legs are bright orange.
It uses the understory, lower canopy, older secondary forest, and cacao plantations. It may visit forest edges but rarely soars above the canopy.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.