Hunting from the air or high perches, these hawks frequently hover and glide before swooping down on their prey.
Breeding pairs construct large bowls of nests on cliff ledges. The nests are lined with grasses, small twigs and greenery.
A typical clutch size ranges from 1-7 eggs.
Interestingly, these birds will puff themselves up, in order to appear threatening, if another bird comes into its territory.(University of Michigan, 2010)
· Large hawk. Females are darker overall. · Wings long and broad. · Flight feathers pale, with dark trailing edge to wings. · Black marks at wrists. · Tail broad, with white at base and broad dark tip. · Commonly with pale, streaked chest and broad dark belly. · May be all dark, but still with pale wing feathers and white at base of tail. (Cornell University, 2011)
The rough-legged hawk lives in open coniferous forests, tundra and generally barren country. They migrate long distances for the winter. These hawks eat small mammals and some birds. (National Geographic, 2011)
Conservation Status:
No concern. Population stable. (National Geographic, 2011)