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Rough-legged Hawk

Buteo lagopusOrder: FALCONIFORMESFamily: Kites, Eagles and Hawks (Accipitridae)
Rough-legged Hawk Portrait
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Range Map for Rough-legged Hawk

Overview

Rough-legged Hawk: Large hawk with brown upperparts, paler, streaked head, brown-spotted white breast, and dark breast band. The legs are fully feathered. Wings are mostly pale below and dark-edged. Upper half of tail is white, lower half is finely banded. Uncommon dark phase is brown-black overall.

Range and Habitat

Rough-legged Hawk: Breeds in northern Canada. Spends winters in southern Canada and northern U.S. Prefers open country, upland tundra, plains, and marshes.

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Voice Text

Generally silent

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Related Birds:

Northern Harrier
Ferruginous Hawk
Osprey
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
White-tailed Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
.

Copyright © 2005 WBFI Research Foundation Bird database and its related content and media is Copyright (C) 2002 - 2005 Mitch Waite Group All rights reserved.

Family Hawk (Accipitridae)_blue
Species Buteo lagopus
Length18 - 24 Inches
Wingspan52 Inches

Rough-legged Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk: Large hawk with brown upperparts, paler, streaked head, brown-spotted white breast, and dark breast band. The legs are fully feathered. Wings are mostly pale below and dark-edged. Upper half of tail is white, lower half is finely banded. Uncommon dark phase is brown-black overall.

● Song: Generally silent

● Foraging & Feeding: Rough-legged Hawk: Hunts mostly small mammals, especially lemmings during the summer; also takes birds or eats carrion.

● Breeding & nesting: Rough-legged Hawk: Lays two to three white eggs with brown streaks or blotches in a nest made of sticks, lined with moss, and built on a cliff. Eggs are incubated for 31 days mostly by the female.

● Similar species: Rough-legged Hawk: Northern Harrier has thinner wings and lacks white on tail. Harlan's Hawk has more mottling on underparts and has a whiter uppertail surface.

Flight Pattern

Alternates powerful flaps with glides., Hangs in wind and hovers over one spot.
Rough-legged Hawk Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Rough-legged Hawk: Breeds in northern Canada. Spends winters in southern Canada and northern U.S. Prefers open country, upland tundra, plains, and marshes.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationCommon in range, Uncommon on wintering grounds
MigrationMigratory
Weight30.4 Ounces