Bird
Rough-legged Hawk
Buteo lagopusAlso known as Rough-legged Buzzard, Rough-legged Falcon
Rough-legged hawks are cold-adapted raptors named for the dense feathering that extends down their legs all the way to the toes. Nesting on arctic cliffs and tundra, they migrate south each winter to hunt over open fields, prairies, and marshes. Their presence in winter landscapes fluctuates each year in direct response to the abundance of arctic lemming populations.
RaptorMigratoryArctic Specialist
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBrown Lemming, Meadow Vole, Deer Mouse
Predators
- Arctic Fox
- Snowy Owl
- Golden Eagle
ThreatsClimate change in arctic breeding zones, rodenticide poisoning, and power line collisions
HabitatsArctic tundra during breeding season; open fields, agricultural lands, and marshes in winter
Life span15–19 years in the wild
Classification
- OrderAccipitriformes
- FamilyAccipitridae
- GenusButeo
- SpeciesButeo lagopus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of inflicting sharp talons or bites if cornered or handled; observe safely from a distance.
Responsible observation
- Winter Scanning: Look for birds hovering in place over open snowy fields or perching atop utility poles.
- Distance Observing: Use binoculars or a spotting scope to view without flushing the bird from its perch.
- Field Marks: Search for distinctive dark wrist patches and a bold dark belly band during flight.
Arctic Competitor (c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Primary Prey Robert McLeod / CC0 · cc0
Close Relative Buteo_jamaicensis_1.jpg: Alan Vernon derivative work: Berichard (talk) / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative "Ferruginous Hawk 001" by contemplicity is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
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Mystic Meadows
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