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Getting to Know Rough-legged Hawks

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  • February 2019
  • Getting to Know Rough-legged Hawks

Getting to Know Rough-legged Hawks

  • ​Posted February 19, 2019

By Marliyn Levand, Wildlife Education Manager

On wintry afternoons over frozen fields, you may catch a glimpse of an awesome raptor that visits Ohio during the winter—the rough-legged hawk. This large hawk spends most of the year far to the north in the arctic regions of Canada and Alaska, inhabiting open tundra and mountainsides. These hawks can often be identified in flight by the dark band at the end of the tail, dark wrist patches, and a dark belly band.

The rough-legged hawk is about the size of the familiar red-tailed hawk, but unlike the red-tailed hawk it has adaptations for life in the frozen tundra. Its small feet are designed for catching diminutive prey such as mice, meadow voles, and lemmings. It will also eat caterpillars and ground birds. In addition, small feet allow this hawk to perch on the slender branches of tree tops or poles, unusual places for such a large bird. The rough-legged hunts from a perch near an open field. It can also hover over a field tracking its prey, much like the smaller American kestrel. Like an owl, this hawk has feathers that allow for silent flight to catch its prey unaware.

In breeding season, the rough-legged hawk builds a nest with large sticks, grass, moss, and an occasional caribou antler or two. They usually have two to three young, but when their prey species are more abundant they may have five to seven young. The young migrate south to Ohio in the winter to hone their hunting skills and the adults visit for easier hunting as well.

Lake Metroparks' Animal Ambassador Tundra

Tundra was brought to the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center in March 2011. She was found injured in a field in Geauga County. Her left wing sustained a serious tear in the tissue and there were missing flight feathers. She is unable to fly due to this damage. After five months in rehabilitation, it was apparent Tundra could not return to the wild. She became a permanent Animal Ambassador in August 2011. She is very popular with visitors because of her beautiful plumage and her larger than life attitude.


Tundra

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