The short answer is yes, a rough-legged hawk and a rough-legged buzzard are different names for the same bird species. The scientific name for this species is Buteo lagopus.
What is a rough-legged hawk?
The rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus) is a medium to large bird of prey found in North America and Eurasia. Some key facts about rough-legged hawks:
- They get their name from their feathered legs, which are a distinctive feature of this species.
- These hawks breed in Arctic and subarctic regions of North America and Eurasia.
- They migrate south for the winter into Canada, the northern United States, and parts of Europe and Asia.
- Rough-legged hawks feed mainly on small mammals like voles, lemmings, and squirrels.
- They hunt from perches or by hovering and then diving down on prey.
- They are brown overall with dark wrist/finger markings on the wings.
- Males and females have similar plumage coloration.
What is a rough-legged buzzard?
Rough-legged buzzard is a name used for the same species Buteo lagopus in Eurasia, especially in Europe. Some key points:
- Buzzard is a term used in Europe, Asia, and Africa for many species of hawk in the genus Buteo.
- In North America, buzzard refers specifically to the turkey vulture.
- So the rough-legged buzzard refers to Buteo lagopus in Eurasia and is the same exact species as the North American rough-legged hawk.
- The name buzzard likely derives from the buzzing sound some Buteo hawks make in flight.
- Rough-legged refers to the feathered legs, so the names describe the same distinctive trait.
Taxonomy and classification
The rough-legged hawk belongs to the following taxonomic classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Accipitriformes
- Family: Accipitridae
- Genus: Buteo
- Species: Buteo lagopus
So it is in the genus Buteo, which contains many buzzard species found around the world. This shared genus explains why rough-legged hawk and rough-legged buzzard are used interchangeably.
Range and habitat
The rough-legged hawk has an expansive range across northern regions:
- Breeds in Arctic tundra areas of Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Siberia, and other northern regions.
- Migrates south to cover much of Canada, northern Eurasia, and the northern United States.
- Winters as far south as New England, the Great Lakes states, northern Utah, and central Asia.
- Habitats include open tundra, grasslands, coastal areas, and marshes.
Description and identification
Identifying features of the rough-legged hawk include:
- Medium-large sized raptor with long, broad wings.
- Feathered legs extending to the talons (unlike most other hawks).
- Dark wrist/finger markings on the outer wings.
- Mostly brown overall with variable plumage:
- Dark morph birds are dark brown.
- Light morph birds have white tail with dark terminal band.
- Intermediate plumages exist between the morphs.
- Hooked raptor beak and strong talons for grasping prey.
- Soars with wings in shallow V-shape.
Hunting and feeding
The hunting and feeding behavior of rough-legged hawks includes:
- Hunts by soaring high in air and hovering/stopping to spot prey below.
- Dives sharply down to grab prey with talons.
- Feeds mostly on small mammals like voles, lemmings, rabbits, ground squirrels.
- Will also eat small birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
- Often hunts into dusk and nighttime hours unlike many hawks.
- Regurgitates pellets containing undigested fur and bones.
Breeding and reproduction
Rough-legged hawks breed in the far north during spring and summer with the following behaviors:
- Nest is a large stick platform built on a cliff ledge or hillside.
- Lays 3-5 eggs that are incubated for about a month by the female.
- Young fledge from the nest 4-6 weeks after hatching.
- Male helps bring food to the female and young.
- Young hawks migrate south ahead of the adults in the fall.
Relationship to humans
Rough-legged hawks generally have minimal interactions and low conflict with human activities. Points about how they relate to humans include:
- Not significantly threatened as a species by human activity at this point.
- Rarely interacts with humans since breeds and winters in remote northern regions.
- Sometimes killed accidentally by aircraft during migration.
- Lead ammunition poisoning and rodenticide are potential emerging issues.
- Appreciated by bird watchers during migration and winter in lower 48 states.
Conservation status
The rough-legged hawk has a conservation status of “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Specific details include:
- Global population estimated at up to 1 million mature individuals.
- Has a very large range over northern latitudes.
- Population trend appears to be stable currently.
- Does not meet threatened criteria of small/declining population or range size.
- Climate change and habitat loss are potential future threats.
Comparison to other Buteo hawks
The rough-legged hawk differs from some other common North American Buteo hawks in a few key ways:
| Species | Legs | Range | Prey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rough-legged hawk | Feathered | Northern latitudes | Voles, lemmings, squirrels |
| Red-tailed hawk | Bare | Continental US | Mammals, reptiles, birds |
| Ferruginous hawk | Bare | Western North America | Rabbits, ground squirrels |
The feathered legs are a quick way to distinguish the rough-legged hawk from other common Buteo hawks in North America that have bare legs.
Historical and cultural significance
Culturally, the rough-legged hawk:
- Was originally described scientifically by Linnaeus in 1758.
- Has been given a variety of common names including rough-leg, rough-legged buzzard, and rough-foot.
- Plays a role in the mythologies of some northern Indigenous peoples of North America and Asia.
- Has been occasionally trained for use in falconry historically.
- Featured on postage stamps of several northern countries including Canada and Finland.
While not as iconic as some raptors, the rough-legged hawk still has some cultural and historical significance tied to its extensive northern range.
Conclusion
In summary, the rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus) and rough-legged buzzard refer to the same species of hawk found across northern latitudes. Their key identifying feature is feathered legs, giving rise to both common names that describe this trait. While not globally endangered, studying and protecting the breeding and wintering habitats of this widespread northern raptor will be important into the future.
