Adult augur buzzards are strikingly plumaged and essentially unmistakable if seen well despite there being some variability in their coloring. They are almost black brown above with a rufous tail that stands out strongly in contrast. They have white underparts and underwings. The primary flight feathers are blackish and the secondaries off-white, both barred with black. Below the chin and around the throat is mainly white, and the rest of the underparts and the underwing coverts are rich rufous. The flight feathers from below are white, tipped with black to form a dark trailing edge to the wing.
Size: Adults 48–60 cm long; wingspan 120–149 cm Males weigh from 880–1,160 g; females weigh 1,100– 1,330 g.
Diet: Buteo augur are opportunistic in their diet preferences, eating small mammals, birds, and insects, either swooping down on them or from scavenging on the ground.