Ferruginous Hawk

Identification

The ferruginous hawk is the largest of all North American buteos and is often mistaken for an eagle due to its impressive size and proportions. With a length ranging from 51 to 71 centimeters (20 to 28 inches) and a wingspan averaging about 139 centimeters (4 feet 7 inches), this powerful raptor commands attention in the sky. Females are noticeably larger than males. The species exhibits two distinct color morphs: light-morph birds display rusty-brown upper parts with pale heads and necks, while dark-morph individuals are dark brown overall. All ferruginous hawks share distinctive features including feathered legs extending to the talons (like golden eagles), prominent rufous rump markings, and dark "comma"-shaped wrist patches. In flight, look for light "windows" in the inner primary feathers and the characteristic pale underside with dark legs forming a "V" shape.

Perched birds reveal a white breast and body with rusty-brown backs and wings, plus a white head marked by a dark eye-stripe. The wingtips nearly reach the tail tip. The ferruginous hawk possesses the largest and most robust feet of any Buteo worldwide, reflecting its role as a powerful hunter. When distinguishing from similar species, note that the rougher-legged hawk is more slender with darker coloring and a broad black tail band, while Swainson's hawks are considerably less bulky.

Range & Habitat

Endemic to interior North America, ferruginous hawks are birds of open, arid, and semiarid landscapes. They favor level or rolling prairies, foothills, and middle-elevation plateaus—regions largely devoid of trees where their hunting prowess and broad wings provide distinct advantages.

Behaviour & Diet

In flight, ferruginous hawks soar with their wings held in a dihedral position, a distinctive silhouette that aids field identification. While the species' voice is not extensively documented, alarm calls include distinctive "kree-ah" and harsh "kaah, kaah" vocalizations resembling herring gulls, as well as screams similar to those of red-tailed hawks. These formidable predators are large enough and skilled enough to be valued falconry birds in their native ranges.

Best Time & Places to See It

Ferruginous hawks inhabit the open grasslands and prairie regions of interior North America, making them best observed in areas with expansive, treeless terrain. They favor the arid and semiarid zones characteristic of western and central North America, where their broad-winged silhouette can be spotted soaring over vast open country.

Photography Tips

Photograph ferruginous hawks in soaring flight to capture their impressive wingspan and distinctive dihedral wing position. The rufous rump mark and light "windows" in the primaries are key diagnostic features worth isolating in your shots. Look for the characteristic dark "V" formed by the legs on the underside and the comma-shaped wrist markings on the upper wings. Both light and dark morphs occur, so document color variation when possible. The bird's large size and long, slender wings—despite the bulky body—create a unique silhouette worth capturing. Use fast shutter speeds to freeze the soaring hawk's motion against open sky or over prairie landscape, which will emphasize the stark beauty of these regal raptors in their natural habitat.