Rough-Legged Hawk

Buteo lagopus

Rough-Legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) is a diurnal raptor of open country, forest edges, wetlands, migration corridors, or working landscapes across its range. Field identification usually centers on wing shape, tail pattern, eye line, underwing contrast, and light, dark, or rufous plumage phases when present. It feeds on fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, or carrion according to species and season, and many individuals move long distances during migration.

In wildlife records, this label keeps rough-legged hawk separate from broader catch-all categories and from domestic look-alikes. Track source, locality, life stage, permits when relevant, health findings, and the observed color form rather than forcing a generic entry; that keeps releases, transfers, husbandry notes, and future image prompts auditable for Rough-Legged Hawk.