Verreaux’s eagles are entirely black except for a white rump and two short bands of white extending along the sides of the back. There are also white patches on the primary feathers. Females are browner than males and have longer and thicker feathers on the tarsi. Eyes are dark brown and the cere, eye-rings and feet are bright yellow. The wings are built for generating lift, and because of this Verreaux's eagles are capable of flying in winds up to 157 kph.

Juveniles are highly different from adults and have a gold crown, rufous nape and black cheeks, along with a dark breast, cream-coloured thighs and legs and buff wing coverts. The cere, eye-rings, and feet are a duller yellow than the adults’. They reach full adult plumage after 5-6 years.

Verreaux’s eagles are very quiet birds. Among the calls that have been recorded are clucking and chirruping, ringing "whaeee whaeee"s and "kee-oo-kee-oo"s, screams, barks, yelps, and mewing.