General

Rough-legged Hawk: Large hawk with brown upperparts, paler, streaked head, brown-spotted white breast, and dark breast band. Legs are fully feathered. Wings are mostly pale below and dark-edged. Upper half of tail is white, lower half is finely banded. Uncommon dark phase is brown-black overall. Female and juvenile are more olive-brown with dark belly bands and single, thick terminal tail bands.

Range and Habitat

Rough-legged Hawk: Breeds in northern Canada. Spends winters in southern Canada and northern U.S. Prefers open country, upland tundra, plains, and marshes.

Breeding and Nesting

Rough-legged Hawk: Lays two to three white eggs with brown streaks or blotches in a nest made of sticks, lined with moss, and built on a cliff. Eggs are incubated for 31 days mostly by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Rough-legged Hawk: Hunts mostly small mammals, especially lemmings during the summer; also takes birds or eats carrion.

Vocalization

Rough-legged Hawk: Usually silent, but makes mewing squeals near nest; also makes a thin, downward-slurred whistle.

Similar Species

Rough-legged Hawk: Northern Harrier has thinner wings and lacks white on tail. Harlan's Hawk has more mottling on underparts and has a whiter uppertail surface.