Buteo regalis
Cruising low over the contours of rolling, bare hills, Ferruginous Hawks approach ground squirrel or prairie dog communities. These large, graceful, open-country hawks strike unexpectedly, dropping from the air upon unknowing rodents. Ferruginous Hawks were once shot and poisoned because they were thought to be pests. Because of its largely rabbit and rodent diet, however, the Ferruginous Hawk is actually very beneficial to agriculture. These threatened hawks breed primarily on the Great Plains and overwinter south and west of the southern Rockies. Artificial nesting platforms have proven to be successful in encouraging nesting hawks. A very large, noble bird, it is well deserving of the scientific name regalis. |
I.D.: Sexes similar. Light phase adult: rusty red upperparts; very light underparts; dark leggings; light head; light tail is tipped with rust. Dark phase adult: dark underparts; white tail; dark wing linings; light flight feathers. Immature: may lack the spotting on the legs. In flight: dark reddish-brown legs stand out against the white belly; mostly white underparts. Size: L 22-27 in. (56-69 cm); W 56 in. (142 cm). Range: uncommon breeder in the southern and central U.S. Rockies; local breeder in Yellowstone NP; vagrant in the Canadian and northern U.S. Rockies. Habitat: open grasslands, rangelands and agricultural fields. Nesting: typically on the Great Plains; usually in a solitary tree, on a cliff or on the ground; large, compact nest is well made of sticks, weeds and cow dung and lined with finer materials; female incubates 2-4 eggs for 32-33 days; male provides food. Feeding: swoops from high soaring flight; primarily eats ground squirrels, prairie dogs, rabbits and hares; also takes snakes and small birds. Voice: alarm call is a loud, squealing kreeah, usually dropping at the end. Similar Species: Red-tailed Hawk: smaller; underparts are generally darker; red tail. Swainson's Hawk: much smaller; dark flight feathers; light wing linings. Rough-legged Hawk: present only in winter; dark 'elbow' patches. |
