It is the smallest species of falcon in Brazil, measuring 21 to 31 centimeters. Its wings are brownish, with black streaks, while the front part of the bird is white, with small black spots. The head is clear with black vertical stripes, except for the top, which is gray. The male has part of the wings in gray, which differentiates it from the female. He is an excellent hunter, investing in tall grass in search of rodents, lizards, insects and small birds on flights close to the ground. It can be seen occasionally hunting on the lawns of the Praia Vermelha Campus, having great importance in the control of "urban pests".