It is smaller than the Buteo platypterus platypterus but larger than the Lesser Antillean subspecies. This is the darkest subspecies of the broad-winged hawk. In adults, the tail, broadly banded with black and white, and the rufous breast are characteristic.
Immature birds have dark bars on the breast and lack the distinctive tail bands of the adult.
Knowledge of the biology of the Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk is limited. Snyder et al. The Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk is an uncommon and extremely local resident. Snyder et al. The Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk populations are extremely small and limited to only three montane forests.