In my view Rough-legged Hawks are spectacularly handsome raptors whether perched or in flight, even in poor light.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
In yesterday’s post I made the mistake of mentioning the return of migrating Rough-legged Hawks this fall. That hooked me so last night I reviewed some of my older images of them I’ve never posted before. These are two of them.
I never posted this one because it was taken under overcast skies so there isn’t much light on the face or in the eye. But I love the great look we get at the fully extended left wing and the extreme flare of that beautiful tail. At first glance the tail seems to be much larger than it actually is because of the similarly colored primaries of the right wing directly behind it.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Here’s another one, perched and in better light – in my view a truly handsome bird. What’s not to love about Rough-legged Hawks?
Roughies are truly an arctic species, breeding in tundra or taiga in arctic or subarctic Alaska and Canada. Most of them winter in the northern U.S. but I’ve been seeing significantly fewer of them in recent years and I suspect that’s related to the climate crisis. Even when times are good their distribution and numbers are limited by available nesting sites because they nest almost exclusively on cliffs, only occasionally nesting in trees or on man-made structures.
I’m afraid the unusually hot weather in the north this past summer doesn’t bode well for the success of their recent nesting season. I hope that’s just the pessimist in me coming out and I’ll see oodles of them this winter, light-eyed juveniles like this one especially.
I’d love to be pleasantly surprised.
Ron
You really couldn’t have captured a more striking wing and tail spread. As well, the second photo captures it’s beauty. Have to comment on that seemingly anthropogenic accretion the Rough-legged Hawk is perched on😉
Thanks, Lyle. If I remember correctly it’s very old and crumbling concrete.
Pessimists are never disappointed – they can only be pleasantly surprised.
That tail flare!!!!! And the curl at the tip of the wing…
Yet more beauty. And a reminder of just how much I would love to trawl through your files (including your discards).
There’s probably at least some good stuff in there, EC. The trick is finding it!
Yes, it is impossible not to get depressed these days, but at least your blog is a bright spot in my day. Doesn’t really matter what kind of bird (or critter) you present. They’re all good and make me happy! Thank you for being here!
Oh and both shots of those roughies are gloriously beautiful! HOWEVER, I will quibble with your assertion that “they’re the mos handsome of the buteos.” Harrumph! LOL!! Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but in this case, you’re just WRONG! HEHEHE!!
Thanks, Laura. C’mon, I’m never wrong… 🙂
HEHEHE! Yeah, me neither! 😉 Redtails ROCK!! Trust me on this. Now must get my HAHAs out to weather. It’s only 85 today! I need to put on a sweater first. 😉
I am feeling beaten down by so many things not boding well these days.
I am uplifted by these great shots of two awesome roughies, hope you get a good dose of them this migration and beyond.
Stunning portrait shot.
Thanks for all the uplifting, edification and inspiration!
I know, it’s impossible not to get depressed about it. Looking at my photos lifts my spirts for a bit but it doesn’t last long.
They are beautiful. Similar in looks to Ferruginous. I hope to see more birds (in the wild) in general but my hopes are not high.
My hopes aren’t high either, April. I’m afraid it’s just going to get worse.
Oh, that tail! Magnificent! I do hope you see more Roughies this season, Ron. Glad you scratched this itch last night — we definitely benefited this morning! 🙂
I agree about “that tail”, Marty. And that might be the best tail flair I’ve ever captured in the species.
Superb shots Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Ron,
Agreed. Beautiful shots.
No more youth hunt days at Farmington for me! Although I did see several cooperative Marsh Wrens between noisy pick ups hauling boats!
Stephen
“No more youth hunt days at Farmington for me!”
I learned that lesson the hard way too, Stephen. But I’ll say this, it was a lesson well-learned. I’ll NEVER do it again.
Very handsome bird, and two very good photos. That portrait one looks like a model you hired to sit for you. Beautiful photo. I have never seen one. Looked at Sibley’s map and it appears that we are mostly in the rare and just about touching the winter zone. I’ll have to check with our local Audubon experts to see if we have had sightings here from time to time.
To see a sightings map at Cornell’s ebird, go to Explore Species. Then you can enlarge the map to pinpoint your area. This works world wide.
Thanks, Everett. You’re definitely missing out if you’ve never seen one.
Be still my heart! I love these photos but that second should be used to the standard for the ‘roughie’. ! 😍 It is stunning! I know I’ve mentioned to you many times how much I love these raptors…the Rough-Legged was the one that changed my entire perspective of hawks. Light or dark …they are spectacular. To me nothing else has that beautiful face. I eagerly await their return. I too, like you worry about the numbers…there definitely were less numbers last year…I pray it does not continue. Thank you for giving me a much needed lift in spirits! 🙂 On a different note…rain, rain, rain…so heavy even my satellite receiver was down!
I can tell you really love them as I do, Kathy. There’s just something special about them…
It IS a beautiful bird and doesn’t appear as harsh as the Red Tail Hawks for instance… 🙂 It WAS warm this summer at least in AK. One of my sisters just came through and commented on the ridiculous temperatures. They’re retired and leaving AK (Eagle River) after many years there… 😉 Hopefully the “Roughies” will start showing up. Know they do come through here upon occasion.
I’m surprised you don’t see more of them than just “upon occasion”, Judy.
Yes, from reports I’ve seen this past summer was brutally warm in AK.
I agree, absolutely! They have such a gentle, serene head, Oh they can be fierce, but their general look is rather beautiful!
However, as much as I love Rough-leggeds my favorite is the Gyr in either color form, though I have to admit I’m just slightly partial to the white form. If I had a choice, I would rather come back as a Gyr. I had read about them, but never saw one until the 70’s, when I did I was hooked! It was a beautiful sight, grace with power.
We all have our favorites, Dick – or at least many of us do. I’m not sure I’d call Roughies my favorite raptor but I do think they’re the most handsome of the buteos.