BUZZARD HAWKS 
133 
Field Marks. A very large buzzard, the vulture, eagle, and osprey only being larger 
(Figure 174 — 4). Separated from the most characteristic American Rough-leg plumage 
by white breast and abdomen, and absence of dark terminal band to tail (Compare Figure 
193 with 190). Rough-legs summering on the southern prairies are almost certain to 
be this species, and are likely to be confused only with the Red-tailed or Swainson’s Hawks. 
The ruddy coloration of the back, white underparts with little marking, contrasting thighs, 
and white tail, or tail gradually whitening towards base, make the best distinction from 
those species. The black phase is very difficult to recognize except by the white bases of 
the primaries that often show as a flash of white on the upperwing surface when that 
member is extended to its fullest (Figure 194), a character that is not visible in the normal 
flight attitudes of the other comparable species except the American Rough-leg. 
The typical Ferruginous Rough-leg in flight, seen from below, shows a dark V-mark 
with apex under the tail, formed by the deeply coloured thighs and tarsi brought together 
at the closely held feet. 
Figure 194 
Wing of Ferruginous Rough-legged 
Hawk (viewed from above, 
showing white at base of prim- 
aries); scale, f. 
Figure 195 
Wide bill of Ferruginous Rough- 
legged Hawk; natural size. 
Distribution. W estern North America, a bird of the prairies. In Canada, breeding 
on the southern prairies and southward. Not yet satisfactorily identified in British 
Columbia, though it has been noted in the state of Washington and occurs regularly in 
California. 
The largest but the least harmful and most beneficial of our hawks. 
It builds immense, bulky nests in the cottonwoods and poplars in the 
coulees, on shelves and pinnacles of the bad lands, or even on steep, smooth 
hill-sides. These nests are repaired and added to year after year until 
they assume enormous proportions. One such was noted on a sloping 
bank in the Red Deer River bad lands, built to a height of about 10 feet. 
The base was old, rotten, and compressed, and seemingly of great age; the 
top was loose, fresh, and in occupation. Some nests are in such easily 
accessible situations that the wonder is — how they can escape the depre- 
dations of the ever-prowling coyote. Perhaps they do not, for though 
many old nests are encountered in such positions, most of them are small, 
denoting short occupation, and few are in current use. 
This is a magnificent bird, and should be far more numerous than it 
is. In out of the way localities it is still common, but it is not particularly 
wary and disappears more rapidly than other hawks when its habitat is 
invaded by settlement. It is to be seen often enough on the great grazing 
leases, but in agricultural communities, where it is most necessary, it seems 
doomed to disappear before the ill-judged prejudice against hawks in 
general. 
The Ferruginous Rough-leg is the Ground-squirrel or Gopher Hawk 
par excellence and well deserves the name. The number of these pests 
destroyed by them is astonishing. We have no evidence that, through the 
period of their stay in this country, they ever touch anything but small 
