{"id":61051,"date":"2019-10-28T05:25:28","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T11:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=61051"},"modified":"2025-10-01T12:50:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T17:50:09","slug":"searching-for-rough-legged-hawks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/10\/28\/searching-for-rough-legged-hawks\/","title":{"rendered":"Searching For Rough-legged Hawks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Rough-leggedRough-legged Hawk perched on a parking sign – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

It is currently the time of the year when I start looking for Rough-legged Hawks in northern Utah. The temps have dipped below freezing, there has been frost on the ground and now we’ve had our first snow.<\/p>\n

These arctic breeding wanderers have shown up in states north of here and I am hoping to have my first of the season sighting soon.<\/p>\n

I am looking for them on the wing either in flight or hovering while they hunt for prey. I’m searching to find one perched on a sign. Of all of the birds of prey that I photograph Rough-legged Hawks are the raptors I find on signs and sign posts the most frequently.<\/p>\n

\"Rough-leggedRough-legged Hawk perched on sagebrush with Great Salt Lake in the background – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1\/1600, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

I’m scanning the tops of trees and bushes for their familiar shapes. Rough-legged Hawks will often perch on spindly branches that other raptors aren’t comfortable perching on.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Rough-legged Hawk on a broken stump – Nikon D810, f9, 1\/400, ISO 250,Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

I also look for them on the ground or perches that are close to the ground, on cliff faces and at the tops of rocks. Honestly, at this time of the year my eyes are constantly on the look out for Rough-legged Hawks.<\/p>\n

I know I will feel my pulse quicken when I spot my first of season Rough-legged Hawk<\/span><\/a> and I probably won’t be able to contain myself and will shout out “Roughy” whether I am by myself or with company.<\/p>\n

That is simply how excited I get when I see these birds for the first time of the year.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to view more of my Rough-legged Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is currently the time of the year when I start looking for Rough-legged Hawks in northern Utah, the temps have dipped below freezing, there has been frost on the ground and now we’ve had our first snow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":158804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[511,124,27,1148,1022,1087,26],"tags":[4004,2663,4275,4469,4224,3983,4109,4005,4033,4169,2386,4062,7893,5625,4104,153,1648,4057,7894],"class_list":["post-61051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-davis-county-utah","category-rough-legged-hawks","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-birds-of-prey","tag-buteo-lagopus","tag-cloudy-sky","tag-early-morning","tag-frost","tag-grasses","tag-great-salt-lake","tag-hawk","tag-hawks","tag-hawks-of-utah","tag-male","tag-parking-area-sign","tag-parking-sign","tag-perched","tag-raptors","tag-rough-legged-hawk","tag-sagebrush","tag-stimp"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-parking-sign-mia-mcpherson-9707.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-fSH","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44561,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/01\/23\/rough-legged-hawk-on-a-designated-parking-sign\/","url_meta":{"origin":61051,"position":0},"title":"Rough-legged Hawk on a Designated Parking Sign","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many of the birds here in the Salt Lake Valley find a place to roost in the evening and overnight frost begins to accumulate on their feathers like it did on this Rough-legged Hawk on a parking sign.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rough-legged Hawk on a parking sign, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-snow-fog-mia-mcpherson-4026.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-snow-fog-mia-mcpherson-4026.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-snow-fog-mia-mcpherson-4026.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-snow-fog-mia-mcpherson-4026.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42880,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/10\/27\/my-first-of-the-season-rough-legged-hawks\/","url_meta":{"origin":61051,"position":1},"title":"My First of the Season Rough-legged Hawks","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 27, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I went to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge yesterday hoping to see and photograph my first of the season Tundra Swans and Rough-legged Hawks, I dipped on the swans but found at least 5 of the hawks.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rough-legged Hawk on Parking Area sign, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-parking-sign-mia-mcpherson-9686.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-parking-sign-mia-mcpherson-9686.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-parking-sign-mia-mcpherson-9686.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-parking-sign-mia-mcpherson-9686.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7542,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/02\/17\/rough-legged-hawks-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":61051,"position":2},"title":"Rough-legged Hawks On The Wing","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 17, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This year hasn't provided me with as many opportunities to photograph Rough-legged Hawks as last winter did and before long these raptors will be heading to the high Arctic to find mates on their breeding grounds.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"High Key Rough-legged Hawk lift off from sign, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-high-key-mia-mcpherson-1661.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-high-key-mia-mcpherson-1661.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-high-key-mia-mcpherson-1661.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":99465,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/01\/30\/adult-male-rough-legged-hawk-in-early-morning-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":61051,"position":3},"title":"Adult Male Rough-legged Hawk In Early Morning Light","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Of all the photos I took yesterday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge the one I liked the most is of this Rough-legged Hawk in early morning light.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Rough-legged Hawk in early morning light, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rough-legged-hawk-male-predawn-light-mia-mcpherson-4677.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rough-legged-hawk-male-predawn-light-mia-mcpherson-4677.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rough-legged-hawk-male-predawn-light-mia-mcpherson-4677.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rough-legged-hawk-male-predawn-light-mia-mcpherson-4677.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65878,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/02\/29\/rough-legged-hawks-will-be-leaving-swainsons-hawks-will-arrive-soon\/","url_meta":{"origin":61051,"position":4},"title":"Rough-legged Hawks Will Be Leaving – Swainson’s Hawks Will Arrive Soon","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"It is almost time for me to see a seasonal switch of raptors here in northern Utah because the Rough-legged Hawks will leaving and the Swainson's will arrive soon.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rough-legged Hawk resting on a sign, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-sign-mia-mcpherson-2914.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-sign-mia-mcpherson-2914.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-sign-mia-mcpherson-2914.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rough-legged-hawk-sign-mia-mcpherson-2914.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13559,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/01\/17\/snow-birds-rough-legged-hawks\/","url_meta":{"origin":61051,"position":5},"title":"Snow Birds – Rough-legged Hawks","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"But for me the \"Snow Birds\" I have grown to love here in Utah are Rough-legged Hawks who only visit in the winter and spend the rest of their lives breeding in high subarctic and Arctic regions.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rough-legged Hawk over a marshy area of the Great Salt Lake, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-flight-mia-mcpherson-8891.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-flight-mia-mcpherson-8891.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-flight-mia-mcpherson-8891.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rough-legged-hawk-flight-mia-mcpherson-8891.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61051"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61051\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}