ROUGH LEGGED HAWK

Scientific name:- Buteo lagopus
Higher classification:- Buteo
Rank:- Species
Other names:- Rough legged Falcon, Rough legged buzzard.

MEASUREMENTS
Both sexes
Wingspan:- 132-138cm
Weight:- 715-1400 g
Length:- 47-52cm

Similar size to red-tailed hawk
but slightly smaller and less bulky

FIELD REMARKS

• Large-headed, relatively long-winged, long-tailed. Light-morph birds have a light head, and a dark belly band, with black patches on the wings, and a white tail with a dark terminal band. Dark-morph birds are dark throughout, except for silvery flight feathers on the undersides of their wings.

LIFE SPAN

• Rough legged Hawks can live up to 18 years in the wild
• The average life span of rough legged Hawks is about 2 years because they often die young

THE HABITAT OF ROUGH LEGGED HAWKS

• Rough legged Hawks live in the Arctic during summer and move down south in the winter
• The nest in cliff faces and outcroppings in low-lying boreal forest.

DIET OF ROUGH LEGGED HAWKS

• They eat at least 5 voles a day or other small mammals
• They also eat mice, ground squirrels and other small mammals.
• On occasions they may eat frogs, insects and may resort to eating other birds.

WHAT ROUGH LEGGED HAWKS NESTS LOOK LIKE

• a mass of sticks, sometimes contains caribou bones.
• Nesting pairs need a lot of space. However, the pair may nest within 100feet of other birds of different species

HOW ROUGH LEGGED HAWKS ADAPTED TO THE ARTIC

• Rough legged Hawks adapted to the Arctic climate by having feathers on the legs to maintain heat

FLIGHT NOTES

• Flight behavior: Solitary migrant. Soars and alternately flaps and glides while migrating. Hovers when hunting
• They fly low compared to birds of similar size
• They usually glide

THREATS TO ROUGH LEGGED HAWKS

• Sport Hunting
• Traffic Accidents
• Arctic foxes
• Grizzly bear
• Great horned owls

MIGRATORY NOTES

• Migrant to northern breeding grounds between mid-September and early November, and overwinters in the southern areas of its range.
• Migration from the wintering grounds usually occurs between the end of April and late May.
• Migrant in large flocks, small groups or fly alone

YOUNG

• Young rough legged Hawks take there first flight at 5-6 weeks
• Young live with parents for 8-11 weeks

EGGS

• Eggs are pale blush white with blotches of brown and violet
• The female incubates the eggs for about 31 days
• They lay about 3-5 or 2-6 depending on the the location and how many rodents there are that year

BEHAVIOUR

• Usually a solitary bird but occasionally travel in small groups

THANKS FOR WATCHING