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Rough-legged Hawk

Status Uncommon in winter, very rare in summer. Formerly of irregular occurrence, in recent decades it has been seen more routinely but seldom in the large incursions that occur in inland parts of North America. The birds normally arrive from their northern nesting grounds between mid-September and mid-October (average 2 October, earliest 27 August).

An exceptional invasion occurred in 1899-1900, when it was not unusual to see 20-25 at one time foraging over the Grand Pre meadows of Kings County. They were not again seen in pronounced numbers until 1951 when 12-15 birds occurred at the same location. Large numbers (10 or more) have been recorded on Christmas Bird Counts at Brier Island, Amherst or Wolfville, in 1960, 1964, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1983. Last sightings are usually in April or May (average 2 May, latest 25 May). However, a few stragglers, evidently immature birds, have been seen in summer. Erskine (1968) reported summer occurrences around the Amherst marshes in 1965 and 1966, and on Cape Breton Island on 24 July 1966. More recent reports have been of a molting bird near Tusket, Yarmouth County, on 4 July 1977 (C.R.K. Allen), and one near Amherst on 18 July 1981 (C. Desplanque).

Description Length: 50-60 cm. Legs (tarsi) are feathered to the toes, giving them a rough appearance hence its name. It occurs in light, dark, and intermediate colour phases. The light phase is most common. Adults: In pale phase, brown above, interimposed with cream and ochre; whitish streaks on head and neck broader in adult female. Breast streaked with brown and white. Abdomen of female blotched with dark brown, forming a band; abdomen of male usually merely barred with dark brown. Tail white basally with broad dark terminal band in female (usually several narrow bars in male). Thighs barred in both sexes. Immatures: In pale phase, resemble adult female but buffier below; thighs unbarred, a more extensive and better defined abdominal band, and the terminal half of the tail is unbarred dark brown. Dark-phase birds are uniformly brownish black with some white on inner webs of the primaries and at base of tail. Tail usually has some light barring.

Range Breeds in Alaska and across northern Canada north to the southern arctic islands and south to northern Manitoba and Ontario, the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Newfoundland. Winters from southern Canada to the southern United States. It also occurs in Europe and Asia.

Remarks This is one of our largest and most beneficial hawks. Despite its size, its talons are comparatively weak but admirably suited for picking up small rodents from their grassy runways, so commonly seen in our meadowlands. These small mammals make up a very high percentage of its food.

On 28 February 1954, I watched one on the Grand Pre meadows kill four mice in a matter of a few seconds. With wings held high, it hopped about as though performing some sort of dance. Watched through a 20-power telescope, it was then seen to devour the mice one after another in quick succession, swallowing them whole, head first. That birds of prey sometimes, if not always, refrain from killing beyond their immediate food requirements, is clearly exemplified by the behaviour of this particular bird. Having disposed of the four mice, it alighted on a fence post nearby and assumed a posture of sleepiness. Traces of snow on the ground enabled me to notice a large Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) wandering aimlessly along the fence line towards the hawk. When the rodent reached a point 5-6 m away, the bird suddenly became alert, probably aroused by sound rather than sight. With apparently intense concentration, it slowly shifted its position on the post and, with head lowered in a menacing attitude, faced the oncoming rat, which, unaware of its perilous circumstance, continued to draw near. When it reached the base of the hawk's perch, the bird leaned forward as though poised to strike. But it refrained from striking, and the rat, oblivious to the close call it had just had, continued on its way. Gradually the hawk resumed its former state of composure, settled down, and appeared to sleep.

With reference to the food of this bird, Taverner (1934) states "Of 45 stomachs examined, 40 contained mice; 5, other mammals and a lizard. A record like this is enough to condemn the indiscriminate killing of hawks. The Rough-leg is a mouse hawk par excellence. It also feeds on grasshoppers and has been known at times to do excellent work controlling plagues of these destructive insects."