The wings are pale gray, sides of neck pale gray and the throat is white. Legs dull yellow. Bold red eye. It takes 3 years for full adult plumage to develop.
Immature plumage is dull and heavily streaked grayish brown.
As birds mature the plumage morphs into adult appearance. 1st spring birds retain chest and lower wing streaking, 2nd spring birds resemble adults except black plumage is dull brown. Legs are greenish-yellow. A noisy krok, krok, krok call and low guttural wok . Calls when disturbed and at night.