del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. Its flight is active, with slow wing beats. Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Farm and Ranch Land Conservation Program. Ferruginous hawk (photo courtesy of the U.S. The ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) is a member of the hawk family (Family Accipitridae). [18] The prey species hunted by golden eagles are often similar, but the ferruginous hawk is locally less of lagomorph specialist where it co-exists with eagles and takes typically smaller prey, such as pocket gophers, which are generally ignored by the eagles. The ferruginous hawk maintains minimum distances from other nesting raptors but will nest closer than necessary, suggesting that the distance is not fixed. As with all birds of prey, the female ferruginous hawk is larger than th… Toxic chemicals have not been suggested as a significant threat to the ferruginous hawk. Ferruginous hawks are migratory and occur in arid grasslands and shrubsteppe habitats. The young are born helpless and covered with down. These hawks avoid high elevations, forest interiors, narrow canyons, and cliff areas. Ferruginous hawks are birds of open country. Among all the nearly thirty species of Buteo in the world, only the upland buzzard (B. hemilasius) of Asiaaverages larger in length and wingspan. High perching occurs from prominent places around the nest, particularly early in the breeding cycle. Swainson's hawks and especially rough-legged buzzards can be nearly as long-winged but are less bulky and heavily built than the ferruginous. Among this hawk's eagle-like qualities are its large size  — about two feet long with an impressive 4.7-foot wingspan. The ferruginous hawk is listed as a Threatened Species in several states, and is a Federal Species of Concern. This hawk prefers to nest in tall trees, but they are hardly limited to them. The nests are made of ground debris such as sticks, branches, and cattails. The ferruginous hawk primarily hunts small to medium-sized mammals but will also take birds, reptiles, and some insects. National Geographic Society. The ferruginous hawk is one of only three species of American hawks (rough-legged hawk and golden eagle) that have leg feathers extending to the talons. The map illustrates potential range and habitat distribution of this species in Washington. It also glides with its wings held in either a strong or modified V (dihedral), or flat. Lurking near rodent holes, the Ferruginous Hawk grabs emerging animals by surprise. Alberta-to-Texas migrants first move southeast and then south, following grasslands. Currently, the area that is most likely to support a nesting pair is in the far reaches of the northwestern Panhandle. The other is the rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus). The egg-laying period varies with latitude, weather, and possibly food supply. Light juvenile lacks rufous tones of adult but still shows pale tail and clean white breast. Like the Bald Eagle, the Ferruginous Hawk builds a large stick nest, usually in an isolated, open location. The underwings are whitish overall with rufous markings, particularly in the patagial area. 384 pp. Nestlings lie or sit for the first two weeks, stand at about three weeks and walk soon after. The winter habitat is similar to that used during the summer. Across the Canadian prairies, the range was diminishing up until 1980, and at that time, birds were felt to be occupying 48% of its original range. SGCN-classified species include both those with and without legal protection status under the Federal or State Endangered Species programs, as well as game species with low populations. Aggressive actions such as attacking, talon-grasping, and pursuit have been noted by some observers. Hawks, Eagles, and Kites(Order: Accipitriformes, Family:Accipitridae). Young hawks have killed prey as early as four days after fledging. First-year mortality has been estimated at 66% and the adult mortality at 25%. The number of young a pair can successfully raise depends upon the cyclical abundance of its mammalian prey, a breeding strategy also seen in the Snowy Owl.