[4][5] During the 20th century, most taxonomic authorities retained it in Polyhierax, though Brown and Amadon supported separating the two genera.

Sexually dimorphic, the female has a rufous[note 1] mantle on her upper back and behind the head, whereas in the male these areas are grey.

[2][4] The shape of the tail is notably rounded, with the outermost feathers an inch shorter than the middle ones.

[2] Its wings have the pointed shape typical of falcons, with the second primary feathers longest, and the first nearly equal to the third.

[4][note 2] Its legs and feet are yellow, hence the French name fauconnet à pattes jaunes (yellow-legged falconet).

The IUCN considers it "near-threatened" by habitat loss due to logging and forest fires, and possibly hunting.