The underparts are white to pale grayish-white, with rufous or pale gray flanks. The underparts are whitish shading through buff to rufous on the flanks. The juvenile is browner and has a paler rufous face and whiter underparts. The underparts are white and the tail is barred with rufous and black. It has distinctive rufous underwing-coverts. Their plumage typically involves greens, browns, rufous or grey. The underwings are whitish overall with rufous markings, particularly in the patagial area. The relative frequency of the rufous and white plumage types varies geographically. The rest of the plumage is a rufous chestnut. Males are characteristically dark sooty grey above with rufous thighs and vent. Immatures have a strongly contrasting golden crown and a rufous or ginger nape and mantle. Females of this morph are often darker with more rufous mottling. The underside is creamy with rufous flanks and belly. Perianth with depressed glands on the inner surface, externally rufous and pubescent. The back has brown feathers with rufous spots in the Indian and subspecies.