- Life expectancy
- Clutch size
- Usually 2–4 eggs
- Global status
Identification
A large buzzard with a broad chest and long wings. In the pale form, the rufous feathered legs are particularly striking. In flight they can form a dark V against the pale belly.
Colours
Adult · Pale
White underparts, rufous leg feathering and rusty wing coverts. Tail and flight feathers are pale.
Pale Ferruginous Hawks are common, dark ones rare. Markings and rufous tone also vary within a morph.
Behaviour
It usually lives alone or in pairs. In winter several birds may gather at productive feeding sites. On the ground it moves by walking and hopping; in courtship the male performs rising and falling flights.
Breeding & rearing
The nest site is unusually variable: single trees, rocks, artificial structures and even the ground are possible. Both partners work on the nest. Disturbance during nest building can lead to a new site being chosen.
