The jackal buzzard is one of the two larger "Buteo" species native to Africa, alongside its close cousin, the augur buzzard. Adults may measure in total length. In weight, one survey found 55 unsexed birds to weight from while another found seven males to weigh from and eleven females to weigh from . Another female also weighed approximately , making this one of the massive of the world's "Buteo" species. 18 jackal buzzards were found to have averaged . Wingspan in this species is known to range from , with an average of in 9 birds being almost identical to the mean wingspan of the augur buzzard.