Rough-legged Hawk

Buteo lagopus

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

48-61 cm (19-24") Fairly common. Breeds in far north, winters south in open country.

Large hawk. Tail and wings are longer than most buteos. Highly variable.

Light phase: more common light phase is dark brown above with a light head and underparts except for dark belly band and black at bend of wings; white tail with dark terminal band.

Dark phase: all dark except for base of tail and underside of flight feathers. Often hovers.

Song: thin whistle.

Watch and learn

Videos

4 videos

Rough leggedHawk

Credit: dianab97330

Rough-legged Hawk

Credit: Kootenay Nature Photos

Rough-legged Hawk (Accipitridae: Buteo lagopus) Dark Phase

Credit: Carl Barrentine

Rough-legged Hawk Lunch (warning: graphic video)

Credit: Ed Matuod

Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 6 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Rough-legged Hawk

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 4

Where was the white seen in flight ?: Mainly on the wings · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:424-rough-legged-hawk:1:1 Source: 424 Rough-legged Hawk, row 1

Rule 2 10 criteria confidence 4

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:424-rough-legged-hawk:2:1 Source: 424 Rough-legged Hawk, row 2

Rough-legged Hawk (Dark Phase)

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 2

Where was the white seen in flight ?: Mainly on the wings · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:425-rough-legged-hawk-dark-phase:1:1 Source: 425 Rough-legged Hawk (Dark Phase), row 1

Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 2

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:425-rough-legged-hawk-dark-phase:2:1 Source: 425 Rough-legged Hawk (Dark Phase), row 2

Rough-legged Hawk (Immature)

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 4

Where was the white seen in flight ?: Mainly on the wings · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:426-rough-legged-hawk-immature:1:1 Source: 426 Rough-legged Hawk (Immature), row 1

Rule 2 10 criteria confidence 4

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:426-rough-legged-hawk-immature:2:1 Source: 426 Rough-legged Hawk (Immature), row 2