If a hawk can be said to look “elegant,” this bird is one of them. The proportions are finer than a red-tail and they just look lighter and more svelte, at least in my humble opinion. In the case of this Gregg Thompson photo, maybe not so much elegant as fierce, but that is common in hawks with prey. Just don’t try to take the prey away from the hawk!
General Description: The Rough-legged Hawk got its common name because of the feathers covering its legs, protecting the bare skin from the cold of their northern range. It has a smaller head than a Red-tailed Hawk and, seen from below, lighter tail with dark sub-terminal band (plural on the male). The feathers on the body are mottled dark and white, with dark “wrists” as seen from below. This bird can be found in light and dark morphs, although only about 10 percent of the birds are found in dark morph. They are 18.5 to 20.5 inches in length, with a wingspan of 52 to 54.3 inches, and weigh anywhere from 25.2 to 49.4 ounces, quite a spread.
Habitat: In winter, this hawk can be found in open fields, marshes, plains and farmland. The rest of the year, they spend above the Canadian border in North America and comparable territory across the northern hemisphere in the rest of the world, pretty much sticking to the northern boreal forest edge and the tundra.
Behavior: Rough-legged Hawks are rarely seen in numbers, but can be found hunting singly and in pairs. They perch in a good viewing spot for hunting, or hover in place facing into the wind until diving down upon prey.
Diet: During the winter, voles, ground squirrels, moles, rabbits and other small mammals are their main food source, and they will sometimes eat carrion. On breeding territory, they eat mostly lemmings.
Nesting: The nest site of choice is a rocky cliffside, maybe even within the territory of a Gyrfalcon or Peregrine Falcon, but not too close to other Rough-legged Hawks. They can also choose the top of a rock, on the ground, or even in a tree if trees are available. The nest itself is a bulky, rough platform of sticks, bones and other found debris lined with grass, twigs and other fine material. The female incubates three to five eggs for 31 days while the male brings her food. After hatching, she continues to brood the young while the male feeds them all. After a few weeks, she joins in hunting food for the growing family. The young begin flying at 5 to 6 weeks but stay with their parents for another 3 to 5 weeks.
Migration: These hawks leave their breeding grounds, arriving in Washington in October through November. They head back north in early spring.
Conservation Status: According to Partners in Flight, there are about 500,000 in the global breeding population, and the species appears stable. It is very dependent on the prey population, so they have the ability to follow the prey. More study needs to be done.
When and Where to Find in Grays Harbor: Although they don’t show up around here every year, I have seen them in the field on the east side of Paulson Road on Port property in Hoquiam and along SR 109 just north/west of Hoquiam High School. But check out the fields of the eastern side of the county where they have good habitat.
