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| MEASUREMENTS: The Ferruginous Hawk has a body length of 22 - 26 inches, a wingspan of 4 - 5 feet, and weighs 2 1/4 - 4 1/2 pounds. This hawk is the largest and heaviest of the buteo hawks. |
 HABITAT: Ferruginous Hawks can be found in arid to semiarid regions, as well as grasslands and agricultural areas in southwestern Canada, western United States, and northern Mexico. |
| DIET: This large hawk eats mostly mammals, like hares, rabbits, gophers, and ground squirrels, but will also sometimes hunt birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Ferruginous Hawks hunt with a variety of techniques including hunting from a perch, hovering, low or high searching flight, or from the ground. |
| REPRODUCTION: Ferruginous Hawks build large stick nests in trees or bushes, on cliff ledges, power poles, artificial platforms, and even on the ground. The female usually lays 3 - 4 eggs that are incubated 32 - 33 days. The young hawks fledge at 5 1/2 - 6 weeks of age, and are mature at 2 years. |
| NAME DERIVATION: The scientific name comes from the Latin word buteo, which indicates a kind of falcon or hawk, and regalis, a Latin word for royal or regal and refers to the large size of the bird. Another explanation for the use of regalis in the scientific name may be for Real del Monte, Mexico, the location where the bird was first studied. Real is Spanish for royal. The common name is from the Latin word ferrugo, meaning rust, and refers to the color of the adults. This hawk has been known as Eagle Hawk, Gopher Hawk, Ferruginous Rough-legged Hawk, and Squirrel Hawk. |
INTERESTING FACTS:
- Like many owls and other raptors, the Ferruginous Hawk’s nesting attempts and fledgling success are dependent upon the food supply in the nesting territory. If food is scarce, the pair may not nest at all.
- The Ferruginous Hawk is one of two booted hawks in North America. Like the Rough-legged Hawk, they have feathers that go down the legs to their toes.
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