Forehead to nape of neck white with some gray; fore neck is dark gray with ashy wash; rest of neck gray; lower fore neck and upper breast have long pointed slate gray plumes. Plumage on crown and ears is loose and long. Chin white with some gray, throat dark gray. Rest of body is slate gray. Eyes are dark brown; bill is pinkish yellow, and legs and feet are black. Sexes are alike with females smaller. Wingspan measures 5 to 7 feet. Beak is between 2.5 to almost 3 feet. They reach a height of approximately 43 inches (3.5 feet). Downy young have a buff yellow head and neck and gray back. Immatures are light blue-gray with light chestnut or a tawny color on top of head and sometimes neck.