Hawks and eagles
Rough-legged Hawk
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Buteo lagopus
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How to recognize it
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Medium-large hawk, long wings and tail; wingtips reach or pass tail tip when perched
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Light morph: white underparts, dark wrist patch, white tail with a broad dark band near the end
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Often hovers in one spot with rapid wingbeats
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Alarm call: long descending whistle, often like kee-eer
About the species
The Rough-legged Hawk has the look of a northern raptor built for cold air, with long wings and feathered legs. In flight it feels stretched out, and when perched the wing tips may reach past the tail.
It is easiest to notice by how it hunts. It can hover over open ground for a long time, and its alarm call is a drawn-out, descending whistle.
In summer it stays in tundra and forest-tundra, then moves south for winter. It feeds mainly on lemmings and other small northern mammals, but it also takes avian prey.
Where to find
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On the city edge—vacant lots, rough lawns, and the first open fields—look for Rough-legged Hawk hovering in one spot over the grass, scanning for mice.
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Along canal banks, pond edges, and wet meadows, especially in winter, slow low circles over the ground are a good clue.
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On fence posts and utility wires beside wide roads or housing estates, a perched hawk with a pale tail may sit still before dropping to hunt.
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In older parks with tall trees beside open clearings, listen for a sharp descending whistle from a perch when something gets too close.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Buteo lagopus Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Rough-legged buzzard Encyclopedia article