Written by Janelle Wicks/Photo by Dan Streiffert

Rough-legged hawks (Buteo lagopus) are known as such because of their feathers which extend down the legs all the way to their toes, one of only three North American raptors with this trait. Like many hawks they can present with a light or dark morph but always have bold patterns with a fairly long tail compared to other buteos which is dark at the tip and pale at the base. While male and female share similar patterns the female will have a paler head and very dark belly patch which may be more mottled in males.  

Rough-legged hawks are seen throughout northern latitudes. They will breed in the Artic. In North American they are seen wintering in southern Canada and the United States. If you are looking for one this winter you might seek out open grasslands, shrub steppe, marshes, or dunes. 

Their diet consists of rodents, small mammals, and birds such as ptarmigans they would have access to during the breeding season. At Malheur Refuge they eat mostly mice and voles which are abundant. The Rough-legged Hawk hunts on the wing or from elevated perches such as utility poles, fence posts, and trees. 

Observations of rough-legged hawks at Malheur Refuge begin in late September and will persist through the winter before they head north in April. Though some will linger such as the one pictured here (above) which was photographed by Dan Streiffert in May of 2015.