Arctic Visitor

Meet Buteo lagopus - the Rough-legged Hawk.  Dark morph to be exact.

The raptor takes its name from the feathers that extend down the legs to the base of the toes - an adaptation to the cold environment this bird prefers.  This hawk is only seen here on the peninsula during the winter months with the southern-most extent of its winter range being the Texas panhandle.

Summer breeding range is the northernmost extent of Canada's coniferous forest zone and escarpment bordering the arctic tundra.  Preferring open country, when hunting this bird of prey often hovers on beating wings and at sustained speeds of 22-28 miles per hours it can fly for longer periods than most birds of prey.  In a dive it can reach speeds of up to 120 miles per hour. 

The light morph has a distinctive the white rump on the upper tail and underside is easily identified by the dark wrist patches on the flight feathers of the underwing and a dark band at the end of the under part of the tail.  (See photo below).  The dark morph is dark all-over.

Prey includes small rodents such as lemmings, voles, ground squirrels and other small mammals.  This species is monogamous and the female guards the nest while the male is on the hunt.  A pair will fledge 2-6 young once a year.    

That makes for two raptor appearances so far this year on a trail camera.  That's a good start.

2-9-15 photo