Pale chanting goshawk

Pale chanting goshawks are striking thanks to their blue-grey plumage, which looks particularly cleanly marked on the head, back and wings. The underside is pale and finely barred across, and the bright red legs and waxy red lores are especially distinctive. In flight you can recognise the broad wings and a long, dark tail with conspicuous white tail bands at the tip.

The proud hawk profile shows in their upright posture and relatively long neck. Compared to other birds of prey, pale chanting goshawks look slim, with a body length of about 56 to 65 centimetres. Young birds are overall more brown and less contrasting in colour, but the red legs are their trademark from an early age.