![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rough-legged-hawk-0639-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"rough-legged-hawk-0639-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nAnd a minor mystery solved.<\/p>\n
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1\/500, f\/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n Three days ago just before sunrise at Bear River MBR I had this Rough-legged Hawk, likely a male, in my viewfinder for less than 10 seconds before he took off from an old and weathered plywood sign.<\/p>\n Typically I don’t stop for birds when I find them before the sun comes up but I made an exception for this guy because many of his dorsal surfaces were covered with frost which, despite the poor light, I thought might make for some interesting photos. Only minutes before I’d noticed that it was 10\u00b0 F. so I couldn’t help but have empathy for the frosty hawk.<\/p>\n Notice the frost on top of the post on the right. As an arctic species Rough-legged Hawks are used to such temperatures, but still. I had my seat warmers cranked up and a heavy coat over my lap and legs and I was still cold. Since I left Montana and since I reached old fart status I’ve become a real wuss in cold weather.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While I was processing the photo I noticed something puzzling. What was he actually perched on? If he was perched atop the edge of the sign we should be able to see the rear toe (hallux) of his left foot wrapped back and over the top of the sign but we can’t. Besides, he appears to be perched a little too far forward and low for his feet to be on top of the sign. Was there something that we can’t see attached to the other side of the sign that he was perched on?<\/p>\n So I went back to look at my takeoff shots to see if I could find an answer. I’d almost deleted those photos the moment I saw them because he took off away from me and with my slow shutter speed in the low light they were horribly soft.<\/p>\n I’m glad I hadn’t. Sometimes soft photos can still be revealing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He’d actually been perched on the top of the small post that supported the sign.<\/p>\n He’d just been hunkered way down so his feathers would keep his feet warm. Rough-legged Hawks, along with Ferruginous Hawks and Golden Eagles, are the only North American raptors to have feathered legs but their feet are featherless and vulnerable to the cold.<\/p>\n That’s where the name “Rough-legged” comes from – their feathered legs.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Correction:<\/p>\n In my post I said that Rough-legged Hawks are “used to such temperatures”, referring to the 10\u00b0 F. temperature that morning. But my good friend Jim DeWitt (Wickersham’s Conscience<\/a><\/span><\/span>) corrected me. And Jim should know since he lived in Alaska for most of his life and he knows his birds. Here’s Jim’s correction.<\/p>\n “Rough-legged may be arctic breeding, but they make a point of arriving there after it has warmed up there and their prey \u2013 arctic ground squirrels, tundra voles and other rodents \u2013 have emerged from hibernation. I’d be surprised if any Rough-legged saw 10\u00b0 on breeding territory. Freezing, yes, but unlikely that far below freezing.”<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" And a minor mystery solved. (2 photos)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rough-legged-hawk-0642-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"rough-legged-hawk-0642-ron-dudley\\"")
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