The Puerto Rican sharp-shinned hawk is a small hawk measuring approximately 28 to 33 centimeters (11 to 13 inches). The dark slate gray upper parts and heavily barred rufous underparts of the adults are distinctive. Immatures are brown above and heavily streaked below. It has short, squared tail, often appearing notched when folded, and small head and neck. In flight, the short, rounded wings and long, narrow tail are characteristic (Raffaele 1989).