- They are winter visitors to Southern Canada and the United States, passing through the Edmonton area in numbers each spring and fall. - The “Rough-legged” name comes from these hawks’ feathered tarsi (lower legs). They are one of only 3 raptors in North America to have fully feathered legs. - Although they breed under the continuous arctic sunlight, Rough-legged Hawks take regular breaks in activity from 11pm to 5am. - They hunt mostly small rodents, but occasionally factor in birds like Longspurs and even Ptarmigan into their diets. On average an adult “Roughie” consumes 5 small rodents per day. - There are two morphs, a light morph (see pictures) and a dark morph, which is a rich chocolate brown across the whole body. - Rough-legged Hawks nest on cliffs and ledges in the arctic tundra, sometimes within 100s of feet of nesting Gyrfalcons, Peregrine Falcons, and other raptors, but never close to their own kind. - Because of their freezing wintering grounds and arctic breeding grounds, Rough-legged Hawks have evolved tiny bills and feet to limit exposure to the cold air. - If you’re looking for a Rough-legged Hawk here, try driving prairie roads east of the city. They like the open fields, and usually perch in plain sight on telephone poles or bare snags. - These Hawks are easily identified by their light heads, dark carpal or ‘elbow’ patches and thick dark belly-bands.
