Adult Rough-legged Hawk male calling – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Yesterday I heard a male Rough-legged Hawk calling which is highly unusual away from their breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra and taiga of the far north. When I spotted this slightly damp, light morph male in this shrub I didn’t expect to hear it call.
This information comes from birdsoftheworld.org:
Usually silent when away from breeding areas but gives call “similar to a faint Red-tailed Hawk alarm call” during intraspecific territorial disputes.
I have only heard Rough-legged Hawks calling twice and both times it has happened in northern Utah. I was excited to hear the call of this Rough-legged Hawk.
Several hundred yards away from the damp looking adult male that called I spotted a second Rough-legged Hawk perched on a flexible plastic marker post. That second bird might be the reason this adult male called out over the marsh.
* Note: In Europe Rough-legged Hawks are called Rough-legged Buzzards which is why the recording I linked to above says buzzard and not hawk in the title of the recording.
Immature Rough-legged Hawk looking at the ground – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
The adult male Rough-legged Hawk may have called out to this immature hawk to let him or her know that they were encroaching on the adult’s winter hunting territory.
For several years in a row I have consistently found a light morph, adult male Rough-legged Hawk in this same area of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I can’t be 100% positive that it is always the same bird without it being banded but I suspect that it is the same male returning year after year. If that is the case I can understand why the adult might feel territorial.
Immature light morph Rough-legged Hawk in the marsh – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
The younger Rough-legged Hawk was relaxed but alert when I photographed them. They scanned the nearby area with their keen eyes as if they were looking for prey. At the time I hoped that I would see the immature bird of prey lift off and capture prey.
Immature light morph Rough-legged Hawk looking over its back – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
The young Rough-legged Hawk was in lovely light with a wonderful background, the only wish I had was that the bird was on a natural perch instead of the bright, white plastic one that they were on.
Then a hunter in a pickup hauling a boat drove past and the immature Rough-legged Hawk took off.
Young Rough-legged Hawk on Do Not Enter sign – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
The young Rough-legged Hawk flew several hundred yards to the west and landed on a “Do Not Enter” sign where I was able to photograph it.
I spotted more Rough-legged Hawks yesterday where I wasn’t able to get close enough to them to take photographs but my finding these two individuals made the trip to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge worth the long drive especially since I was able to hear the adult calling out over the frosty marsh.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Rough-legged Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
Fascinating study of some young neighborhood jocks looking for lunch. Love the eye contact in every pic. Thanks Mia.
Love the action shot of the Roughie calling. Thank you for including a link to their call too — such an interesting vocalization and a fantastic recording! The younger hawk on the Do Not Enter sign makes me chuckle. He has a “C’mon. Try to enter. I dare you!” look about him. 😀
The juvenile of the “Do Not Enter” sign looks like he’s ready to enforce the rules! Great expression. Thanks for sharing your work. And explaining things that I would not know.
Lovely, so many great shots!
Gorgeous, gorgeous birds, great bokeh and a great experience.
Definitely well worth the drive.
What a privilege to see (and photograph) these beauties. Thank you.
Nice to connect the arrival of Rough-legged Hawks there with the arrival of ours in Vermont’s lower Champlain Basin (a wide plain of farmlands, wetlands, floodplains and wintering ground for more northerly species). Thanks for sharing your photos!