General

Ferruginous Hawk: Large hawk with white head and streaked, rust-brown shoulders, back, and feathered legs. Underparts have scattered rufous streaks. Wings are gray-brown. Tail is white with rust-brown wash. Dark morph is red-brown with white flight feathers. Sexes are similar, but female is up to one and a half times larger than male. Juvenile lacks rust-brown on legs and has duller back.

Range and Habitat

Ferruginous Hawk: Found in Canada, south through western and central U.S. to northern Texas. Preferred habitats include lowlands, plateaus, valleys, plains, rolling hills of grasslands, agricultural lands, ranches, and the edges of deserts.

Breeding and Nesting

Ferruginous Hawk: Two to six brown blotched, white to pale blue eggs are laid in a nest built of sticks, cow dung, bones, and grass, and built on a low cliff, butte, cut bank, shrub, or tree. Both parents incubate eggs for about 28 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Ferruginous Hawk: Eats ground squirrels, jackrabbits, mice, birds, reptiles, and amphibians; hunts while soaring or from perches.

Vocalization

Ferruginous Hawk: Makes a harsh alarm call "kree-a" or "kaah" when frightened or defending territory.

Similar Species

Ferruginous Hawk: Rough-legged Hawk has a banded tail and lacks rust-brown leggings. "Krider’s” Red-tailed Hawk has more rounded wings and featherless lower legs.