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Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

General Description: Ferruginous Hawks (Buteo regalis) are large, pale hawks with light and dark forms. In either case, look for the long white tail and red feathers on the legs that extend to the toes. In flight, the wings are more pointed than other hawks, and the mouth is extremely large for a hawk.

In this pale form, the head and body are light, the wings are red above, and the pantaloons are red. The open wings are light underneath with dark armpits and dark feather tips.

In the dark form, the birds are mostly black, except for the tail and the underside of the primary flight feathers are white.

Taxonomy: Accipitriformes, Accipitridae.

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

Favored Habitat: Open grasslands and badlands in the western half of the U.S.

Where to Find: Around Las Vegas, Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon, look for them during migration and during winter in places with open grasslands like the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge and Pahranagat Valley north of there. They migrate through the Las Vegas area, so always keep an eye out for them. These hawks are fairly common in the central valley of California.

Comments:

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) If you were a bunny or a tasty ground squirrel, this might be the last face you ever see! Note that the mouth opens to back behind the eye.
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Ferruginous Hawk; note light streaking on front and red pantaloons
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Ferruginous Hawk in flight; note the white tail and red pantaloons
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Ferruginous Hawk; note the pale head and front, plus white tail
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Note the pale coloration and light barring on front
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Ferruginous Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Ferruginous Hawk; note lots of white in the rusty red patches
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Ferruginous Hawk; notice the size of the mouth
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Ferruginous Hawk at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240108
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