- Comments:
Rough-legged hawks have feathered legs, giving them the “rough leg” look
they were named for. Plumage color is variable with darker birds found in eastern North
America. In lighter colored birds, white at the base of the tail is visible. In flight the
underwing pattern shows a black wrist patch and flight feathers with a white base and dark
tip.
- Distribution:
This species is found in North America, Greenland, Europe and Asia. The North
America subspecies breeds north of the treeline in Canada and Alaska. They share their
nesting cliff habitat with peregrine falcons and gyrfalcons. Rough-legged hawks are one of
the more abundant raptors in North America and are regularly seen in Kansas during winter.
They prefer open habitats of the western parts of the state.
- Food:
While on the breeding grounds lemmings are their food of choice. In Kansas, voles
and cotton rats provide suitable substitutes. Hunting is usually done from a fence post or
utility pole or while hovering over a likely area.
Other Kansas Hawks
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