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'''Alternative name: Rough-legged Hawk''' | '''Alternative name: Rough-legged Hawk''' | ||
| − | [[Image: | + | [[Image:Buteo lagopus lagopus by Cristian Mihai.jpg|thumb|550px|right|''B. l. lagopus''<br>Photo by {{user|Cristian+Mihai|Cristian Mihai}}<br> Location: Tunari, [[Romania]]; January 2013]] |
;[[:Category:Buteo|Buteo]] lagopus | ;[[:Category:Buteo|Buteo]] lagopus | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 53-63cm. Wings long and broad. | + | [[Image:Buteo lagopus kamtschatkensis by stoop.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''B. l. kamtschatkensis''<br>Photo by {{user|stoop|stoop}} <br> Location: Fukushimagata, Niigata, [[Japan]], January 2008]] |
| + | 53-63cm. Wings long and broad. Light brown to dappled white upperparts; paler, streaked head, brown-spotted white breast, and dark belly band. The legs are fully feathered. Wings are mostly pale below but in typical birds have a dark square at the base of the hand and are dark-edged (sharply demarcated in adults, more diffuse in juveniles). Tail is white with one broad dark subterminal band and 0-5 additional narrow bands close the the subterminal band. A dark morph occurs, mainly in the North American subspecies, where body and wingcoverts are completely dark but flight feathers and tail are quite typical, almost silvery white in this form. In all forms, a broad white uppertail is diagnostic (a narrow version of this can be seen in [[Common Buzzard]]) and usually, a pale base of primaries on the upperside of the wing. | ||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| − | Can be | + | Can be told from pale [[Common Buzzard]]s and [[Red-tailed Hawk]] in flight by the whitish tail with the single dark bar at the end, the contrasting dark belly patch, and at close range, by the feathered ("rough") legs. Is more inclined to hover than Common Buzzard, though that will also often do so. In Asia, pale phase [[Upland Buzzard]] can be similar, but lacks the dark tail band and belly patch. |
| − | [[Image:Rough-legged_hawk_dark_phase_by_Marcel_Gauthier.jpg|thumb|350px|right| | + | [[Image:Rough-legged_Hawk.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''B. l. sanctijohannis''<br>Photo by {{user|muskrat|muskrat}} <br / > Location: North-eastern [[Pennsylvania]] ]] |
| + | [[Image:Rough-legged_hawk_dark_phase_by_Marcel_Gauthier.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''B. l. sanctijohannis'' dark morph; photo by {{user|Marcel_Gauthier|Marcel Gauthier}}<br />St-Armand, [[Quebec]], [[Canada]], March 2005]] | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | '''Breeds''' [[ | + | '''Breeds''' [[Europe]], [[Asia]], [[Alaska]], [[Canada]] and; most if not all populations are migratory, wintering south of the breeding areas.<br /> |
| − | + | In Europe breed in [[Scandinavia]] through northern [[Russia]], wintering mainly south of the Baltic Sea to the [[Balkans]] and east of that. Irregular winter visitor to east coast of [[England]], more rarey in [[Scotland]]. <br /> | |
| − | In Europe breed in [[Scandinavia]] through northern [[Russia]], wintering mainly south of the Baltic Sea to | + | In North America breeds in the northern half of [[Canada]], wintering mainly in the [[USA]]. |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | Four subspecies are | + | Four subspecies are recognised<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>, though some authors only accept three<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>: |
| + | *''B. l. lagopus'' | ||
| + | ::Breeds northern Europe, northwestern Asia, winters south to central Europe and central Asia. Light morph medium-toned; dark morph recorded but extremely rare. | ||
| + | *''B. l. menzbieri'' | ||
| + | ::Breeds northeastern Asia, winters south to southern China; included in ''B. l. kamtschatkensis'' by some authors. Very pale; dark morph not reported. | ||
| + | *''B. l. kamtschatkensis'' | ||
| + | ::Breeds Kamchatka, winters south to Japan. Very pale; dark morph not reported. | ||
| + | *''B. l. sanctijohannis'' | ||
| + | ::Breeds northern North America, winters south to central-south USA. Light morph medium-toned; dark morph frequent. | ||
| + | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | + | Breeds on arctic and mountain tundra; winters mostly in wilder coastal areas, open prairies, farmland and marshes. | |
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | [[Image:8D5J0695.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|birdimage|birdimage}}<br />[[Flevoland|Oostvaardersplassen]], Almere, [[Netherlands]] December 2008]] | + | [[Image:8D5J0695.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''B. l. lagopus'', juvenile<br>Photo by {{user|birdimage|birdimage}}<br />[[Flevoland|Oostvaardersplassen]], Almere, [[Netherlands]] December 2008]] |
====Flight==== | ====Flight==== | ||
Hunts harrier-like low over the ground with frequent interludes of hovering. Glides with wings markedly angled at carpal joint. | Hunts harrier-like low over the ground with frequent interludes of hovering. Glides with wings markedly angled at carpal joint. | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
| − | Its diet includes small mammals | + | Its diet includes small mammals, mainly lemmings on the breeding grounds, and rabbits and voles on the wintering grounds. |
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
| − | Nests on cliff ledges, trees, or | + | Nests on cliff ledges, trees, or on the ground in high tundra. Two to seven eggs are laid, incubation lasts 28-31 days and after a further 39-45 days, the young fledge. |
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
Quite loud cat-like ''mee-oo''. | Quite loud cat-like ''mee-oo''. | ||
| Line 28: | Line 39: | ||
''[[Media:Buteo lagopus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Buteo lagopus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | # | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#MacKinnon, J., & Phillipps, K. (2000). ''A Field Guide to the Birds of China''. OUP ISBN 0 19 854940 7 |
#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3 | #Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3 | ||
#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966 | #Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966 | ||
Revision as of 15:16, 8 November 2014
Alternative name: Rough-legged Hawk
- Buteo lagopus
Identification
53-63cm. Wings long and broad. Light brown to dappled white upperparts; paler, streaked head, brown-spotted white breast, and dark belly band. The legs are fully feathered. Wings are mostly pale below but in typical birds have a dark square at the base of the hand and are dark-edged (sharply demarcated in adults, more diffuse in juveniles). Tail is white with one broad dark subterminal band and 0-5 additional narrow bands close the the subterminal band. A dark morph occurs, mainly in the North American subspecies, where body and wingcoverts are completely dark but flight feathers and tail are quite typical, almost silvery white in this form. In all forms, a broad white uppertail is diagnostic (a narrow version of this can be seen in Common Buzzard) and usually, a pale base of primaries on the upperside of the wing.
Similar Species
Can be told from pale Common Buzzards and Red-tailed Hawk in flight by the whitish tail with the single dark bar at the end, the contrasting dark belly patch, and at close range, by the feathered ("rough") legs. Is more inclined to hover than Common Buzzard, though that will also often do so. In Asia, pale phase Upland Buzzard can be similar, but lacks the dark tail band and belly patch.
Distribution
Breeds Europe, Asia, Alaska, Canada and; most if not all populations are migratory, wintering south of the breeding areas.
In Europe breed in Scandinavia through northern Russia, wintering mainly south of the Baltic Sea to the Balkans and east of that. Irregular winter visitor to east coast of England, more rarey in Scotland.
In North America breeds in the northern half of Canada, wintering mainly in the USA.
Taxonomy
Four subspecies are recognised[1], though some authors only accept three[2]:
- B. l. lagopus
- Breeds northern Europe, northwestern Asia, winters south to central Europe and central Asia. Light morph medium-toned; dark morph recorded but extremely rare.
- B. l. menzbieri
- Breeds northeastern Asia, winters south to southern China; included in B. l. kamtschatkensis by some authors. Very pale; dark morph not reported.
- B. l. kamtschatkensis
- Breeds Kamchatka, winters south to Japan. Very pale; dark morph not reported.
- B. l. sanctijohannis
- Breeds northern North America, winters south to central-south USA. Light morph medium-toned; dark morph frequent.
Habitat
Breeds on arctic and mountain tundra; winters mostly in wilder coastal areas, open prairies, farmland and marshes.
Behaviour
Flight
Hunts harrier-like low over the ground with frequent interludes of hovering. Glides with wings markedly angled at carpal joint.
Diet
Its diet includes small mammals, mainly lemmings on the breeding grounds, and rabbits and voles on the wintering grounds.
Breeding
Nests on cliff ledges, trees, or on the ground in high tundra. Two to seven eggs are laid, incubation lasts 28-31 days and after a further 39-45 days, the young fledge.
Vocalisation
Quite loud cat-like mee-oo.
<flashmp3>Buteo lagopus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- MacKinnon, J., & Phillipps, K. (2000). A Field Guide to the Birds of China. OUP ISBN 0 19 854940 7
- Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rough-legged Buzzard. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rough-legged_Buzzard
External Links
This link searches for videos titled Rough-legged Buzzard
