roughlegged hawk (Buteo lagopus)
CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.
Length: 19 inches Wingspan: 52 inches
Long, broad, rounded wings
Yellow legs and cere
Sometimes hovers in flight
Wings held in slight dihedral
Dark morph adult:
Very dark plumage
Flight feathers barred and paler than wing linings
Dark trailing edge to flight feathers
Broad, dark, subterminal band on tail
Female has white base to tail; male has dark tail with thin paler bars
Dark morph immature:
Plumage similar to dark morph adult but may be browner
Subterminal tail band less distinct than on adult
Whitish area on upper surface of primaries
Tail pale with indistinct darker bars
Light morph adult:
Wide, dark, subterminal tail band
Upperparts dark brown with some mottling
Dark wrist contrasting with mottled wing linings and paler flight feathers
Females have darker bellies than males; males have darker breasts
Light morph immature:
Plumage similar to adult light morph female
White area on upper surface of primaries
Dark subterminal tail band on light tail with dark bars
The rough-legged hawk is quite variable with light and dark morphs, male,
female, and immature plumages. The broad, dark, subterminal tail band
and black wrist patches are diagnostic. Northern harrier has thinner wings
and lacks white in the tail. Dark morph ferruginous hawk has white comma
in the wrist. Harlan's hawk has more mottling on the underparts and has a
whiter upper surface of the tail.
Length of Incubation: 28-31 days
Days to Fledge:39-43
Number of Broods:1
Diet: Primarily small mammals; lesser quantities of reptiles or amphibians
SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE
Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.
C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
sometimes low numbers.
R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.
Sp - Spring: March, April, May
Su - Summer: June, July, August
Fall: September, October, November R
Winter: December, January, February R
Crooked Run Valley