The Little Eagle is a small, powerful stocky eagle, with a short broad head and moderately long tail, square-cut at the tip when closed. The legs are heavily feathered. When perched, the Little Eagle has a short crest. Plumage varies from light to dark brown, with a pale broken ‘M’ across the upperparts, which is visible from a distance. It has long broad wings, spanning over 1m, with dark ‘fingered’ tips. The underwings have dark leading and trailing edges. It soars in tight circles, very high on thermals or up-draughts, gliding on flat wings. The female is larger than the male.