Buteos of the Open Country Flashcards
Learn to identify the x species in the Buteo subgroup that prefer open country like grasslands, ranchlands, wetlands, desert, and urban areas: Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Harris's Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, and White-tailed Hawk
What does the term buteo mean?
Buteo is a genus of medium to fairly large raptors with a robust body and broad wings.
Photo by Paul Danese
Examples include Red-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, and Ferruginous Hawk.
Elsewhere in the world, they may be referred to as “buzzards”.
What are the FIVE key SHAPE characteristics of the buteo subgroup?
- Fairly large, chunky raptors, smaller than eagles.
- Broad, wide wings.
- Moderately long primary “fingers”.
- Relatively short, square tails.
- Overall “broad and burly” silhouette.
The hallmark characteristic of the buteos is that they are chunky, broad, and burly-looking raptors.
How many species of buteo are there in North America?
Technically, there are 9 species in the genus Buteo in North America. However, within the buteo subgroup, which is organized according to shape similarities rather than genus, there are 12 species.
Remember, the buteo subgroup has been compiled for the purpose of simplifying identification: by lumping together birds based on their similar shape characteristics.
So, for example, while White-tailed Hawks belong to a different genus altogether (Geranoaetus), they have a typical buteo shape and so they have been included in this subgroup.
What are the NINE species of buteos found in North America?
- Broad-winged Hawk
- Ferruginous Hawk
- Gray Hawk
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Rough-legged Hawk
- Short-tailed Hawk
- Swainson’s Hawk
- Zone-tailed Hawk
Listed alphabetically
List the remaining 3 species that have been lumped in the Buteo subgroup but, in fact, belong to other genuses.
- Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus)
- Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo)
- White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus)
What is the typical size of a Buteo?
Buteos are large raptors that are larger than a crow but smaller than an eagle.
The only exceptions to this are Broad-winged Hawk and (perhaps) Short-tailed Hawk, which are smaller than an American Crow.
What are the smallest and largest species in the Buteo subgroup?
Smallest: Broad-winged Hawk
Largest: Ferruginous Hawk
Into what two camps of wing shape can the Buteos be roughly divided?
Those with slightly pointed wings and those with more rounded wings.
In the side-by-side comparison above, showing the flight silhouette of a Harris’s Hawk and a Swainson’s Hawk, it’s easy to appreciate the difference in wing shape (rounded vs. pointed).
What are FOUR examples of buteos that have more rounded wing shapes?
This is because the outermost 3-4 primaries are about the same length, making the wing look more blocky and rounded.
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Rough-legged Hawk
- Harris’s Hawk
Of course, these are not the only buteos with rounded wings, but the silhouette shows up particularly well in these species.
What are FOUR examples of buteos that have a more pointed wing shape?
When only a few primaries stick out, making the wing appear more pointed than rounded.
- Broad-winged Hawk
- White-tailed Hawk
- Ferruginous Hawk
- Swainson’s Hawk
When talking about a raptor’s wing shape, what is meant by the term secondary bulge?
The prominence of the innermost secondary flight feathers along the trailing edge of the wing, creating the appearance of a “bulge”.
Photo by Bart van Dorp
When the innermost secondary flight feathers are longer than the outermost secondaries, it causes the appearance of a bulge in the trailing edge of the wing.
Why is it important to assess the prominence (or lack) of a secondary bulge in flying raptors, particularly the Buteos?
This feature is quite prominent in certain raptor species and entirely absent in others, making it a useful identification tool.
Some raptors (like Harris’s Hawk and White-tailed Hawk) have very prominent secondary bulges, while others (like the Swainson’s Hawk) cast a more even and straight silhouette along the trailing edge of the flight feathers.
Knowing which of the buteos have significant secondary bulges and which have straighter wings can guide you towards a successsful ID.
When assessing the colors or markings of a buteo, what are TWO questions you can ask yourself to find important clues?
- Where is the white? In the wing linings and/or main flight feathers?
Example: Ferruginous Hawks have darker wing linings and white flight feathers, while Swainson’s Hawks have the opposite: white wing linings and dark flight feathers.
- Does the tail have bands? How thick are there and how many?
Example: White-tailed Hawks have a single dark band at the tip of the tail, while Short-tailed Hawks have a more heavily banded tail throughout.
What are THREE stand-out features of a perched Buteo?
- Large, rounded heads
- Robust bodies with broad shoulders
- Relatively short tails
Photo by USFWS
Many species of buteos hunt from perches like telephone poles and other exposed high points in open country, where they can survey for prey.
What is the most widespread and commonly seen raptor in North America?
Red-tailed Hawk
Photo by Ron Knight
Because it is so widespread and common, much of your ID work will be telling the other raptor species apart from Red-tailed Hawks, and so it will serve you well to learn its various distinguishing traits.
This is made tricky by the fact that Red-tailed Hawks have highly variable plumage, appearing a spectrum of shades between the light and dark morphs.
What is the preferred habitat of the Red-tailed Hawk?
Predominantly in open habitats with scattered perches.
Such as grasslands, agricultural fields, parklands, urban areas, roadsides, semi-arid scrublands, and dessert.
What is the key characteristics of Red-tailed Hawk?
Its broad, rusty-red tail.
The Red-tailed Hawk is the only raptor in North America with a red tail, making it an obvious ID if you happen to see it. But the red color is brightest on top of the tail, and since these raptors like to soar at great heights, you might not always get a good look at it. Also, immature Red-tailed Hawks have a brown, not red tail. This is where you’ll need to look out for the other diagnostic markers.
Why can identifying Red-tailed Hawks sometimes be challenging?
Their plumage coloration and patterning is extremely variable, ranging from completely dark all over to very light and intermediate forms.
In the western parts of North America, the dark and intermediate forms (left and middle) are more common, while the pale forms (right) are found throughout its range. This variabilty extends to individuals which have varying patches of white on the body.
The solution to this challenge is to know the key color patterns and markings of a Red-tailed Hawk in flight and perched, as well as other clues, like their pretty iconic call!
What color patterns and markings do Red-tailed Hawks exhibit in flight?
All forms of Red-tailed Hawks have a:
* dark patagial bar on the leading edge of the wing
* a thin dark outline all around the feather edges of the wing
* red tail feathers (adults)
Oftentimes, a dark belly band is visible, too.
Note: the dark patagial bar isn’t always visible in the darkest morphs, in which case you should look for the other key features.
What’s the biggest difference between immature and adult Red-tailed Hawks?
Immature Red-tailed Hawks don’t have a red tail.
Their tail is brown with thin, dark barring, although they still have the white, mottled V on the back, patagial bars, and other important features.
Aside from the red tail, what color characteristic is important to look for on a perched Red-tailed Hawk?
A V-shaped mark of white mottling colloquially referred to as “backpack straps” or “suspender stripes”.
Photo by Rhododendrites
Immature Red-tailed Hawks have barred brown tails, not red, which is illustrated perfectly here.
True or false:
Red-tailed Hawks have feathered legs.
False. They have bare, yellow legs from the ankles down.
Why is this important?
It can help you distinguish a perched Red-tailed Hawk from similar-looking Rough-legged Hawks and Ferruginous Hawks, which have feathers all the way down their legs to their toes.
Open habitats, like grasslands, marshes, and farmlands
Here, they hunt from perches—often small, thin ones like bushes—and frequently hover.
What SEVEN physical traits should you look for in Rough-legged Hawk?
- Pale flight feathers.
- Dark trailing edge to the wings.
- Black “carpal” patches at the wrists.
- Pale, streaked chest and face.
- Broad, dark belly patch.
- White patch at the base of the tail.
- Dark band at the end of the tail.
Rough-legged Hawks come in both light and dark morphs, with a lot of variability in plumage markings. The above-mentioned traits, however, are commonly identified across all morphs so you should look for them to collect clues for identification.
Remember, any ID should be supported by three or more clues!
What fairly unique hunting technique do Rough-legged Hawks employ?
They hover like kestrels, before diving down onto their prey.
This is an energy-intensive hunting strategy, which is why few raptors use it. If you ever see a Buteo-like bird hovering in a farmer’s field or grassland, there’s a good chance it’s a Rough-legged Hawk, although you should look for more clues to corroborate this.
They also hunt from perches, but usually thin ones closer to the ground, like fence posts or bushes.
Where do Rough-legged Hawks get their name from?
Their legs are feathered right down to the toes, making them “rough” not smooth.
If you look closely at the legs of a Red-tailed Hawk, on the other hand, you’ll notice that their feathers only extend down to their shins. This can be a helpful clue for telling the two species apart.
What sole physical trait could help you distinguish a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk from any other dark morph raptor?
They have a small, square patch of white right above the bill.
Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region
Also look for the white at the base of the tail and the legs that are feathered all the way down to the toes (not visible in this photo).
Red-tailed Hawk
The most immediate stand-out feature is the bright rusty-red tail, which is nicely visible when perched. No other raptor in North America has a red tail.
Other features noticable when perched are an all-brown back with some white mottling that tends to arrange itself as two stripes down the back: like the straps of a backpack.
Rough-legged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawks are just a little smaller than Red-tailed Hawks, with broad, rounded wings and a moderate secondary bulge. They are extremely variable in markings—with both light and dark morphs—but have a few stand-out features to look for, including pale flight feathers, dark carpal marks, a dark belly band, and a big white patches in the wing and at the base of the tail.
What bird is this?
Red-tailed Hawk
Juvenile
The red tail might be noticably absent but that’s because this individual is an immature (their tails are brown with thin barring). The main feature that gives this bird’s ID away are the dark patagial bars across the upper leading edge of the wings.
Shape is also really important to pay attention to. Red-tailed Hawks are large raptors with broad, rounded wings and moderate secondary bulges.
Where are you most likely to find Swainson’s Hawk in North America?
In the open grasslands of the western United States and southern central Canada.
Describe the hunting techniques of the Swainson’s Hawk.
They hunt from the air and from tall perches, like utility poles.
Swainson’s Hawk are common roadside-perching hawks in western North America.
What SIX physical traits should you look for in a Swainson’s Hawk?
- White wing linings (key feature, except for the darkest of the dark morphs).
- Flight feathers are evenly dark (no dark carpal patch).
- Slightly pointed wing tips.
- No secondary bulge along the trailing edge of the wing.
- Light morphs have a distinctive dark hood and white throat.
- White belly with variable markings.
Photo by Tom Koerner
Two other features you could look out for include a light tail with multiple thin dark bands (one bolder near the tail tip) and prominent unfeathered yellow legs.
In what THREE ways does the wing silhouette of the Swainson’s Hawk differ from the Red-tailed Hawk?
Swainson’s Hawk:
1. Have more pointed wings with one flight feather longest.
2. Lack the secondary bulge, making their wings appear slimmer.
3. Hold their wings in a very slight dihedral V-shape.
They are also medium-sized hawks, making them smaller than Red-winged Hawks.
In what three morphs do Swainson’s Hawk come?
- Light
- Dark
- Intermediate
With plenty of variability between.
Rough-legged Hawk
Note the dark carpal marks, white flight feathers, white base of the tail, and legs that are feathered all the way down to the toes! These are just a few of the main clues to look for on a Rough-legged Hawk.
The habitat is also important. Rough-legged Hawks love open habitats, including wetlands, where they hunt from perches close to the ground.
Swainson’s Hawk
Note the dark hood that extends onto the pale chest; the white chin and patch above the beak; and yellow, unfeathered legs. The context is also important. This raptor is perched on a utility pole, which is prime hunting real estate for Swainson’s Hawks, as well as others like Red-tailed Hawk.
Red-tailed Hawk
Dark morph
This is a tricky ID because dark morph Red-tailed Hawks look so different from the more common and widespread intermediate and light morphs. This is where you must drill down into the ID hacks you have learned in previous flashcards. And the one that stands out the most in this picture is the unfeathered yellow legs. Remember, dark-morph Rough-legged and Swainson’s Hawks have feathers all the way down to their toes.
The dark wing linings, pale flight feathers fringed in dark, and the general shape of the wing—broad and rounded with noticable secondary bulge—are other clues, although not decisive on their own.
While not visible in this photo, you’d ideally want to look for (and find) a red tail to make a definitive ID. Actually, this whole bird looks rather rufous… and that’s because it’s strictly speaking a rufous morph, which differs from a dark morph only in that its darker plumage tends towards reddish. (Think of a rufous morph as an offshoot of a dark morph.)
Swainson’s Hawk
Note the dark flight feathers that contrast with the pale wing linings, as well as the classic flight silhouette of slightly pointed wing tips and noticable lack of a secondary bulge. Finally, the yellow legs and dark hood provide two other useful clues, although these would likely be a lot less visible in a soaring hawk from one’s vantage point on the ground (unless you had a powerful camera lens).
Rough-legged Hawk
Note the dark carpal marks (a stand-out feature on Rough-legged Hawks), as well as the dark belly juxtaposed by white patches on the wing linings, flight feathers, and tail. Also note the pale, streaked face… like it’s been dipped in cream. Overall, in fight, Rough-legged Hawks look like a bit of a patchwork quilt of white and dark!
True or false
Swainson’s Hawks migrate together in flocks of thousands of individuals.
True
Swainson’s Hawk spend winters in the South American grasslands. During migration they can be seen circling overhead in enormous flocks mixed with other raptors, like Broad-winged Hawk. These formations are referred to as “kettles”.
What unique facial feature do most juvenile Swainson’s Hawk have?
A dark malar steak that extends to the chest.
Photo by USFWS Mountain Prairie
“Malar” means cheek so a malar streak on a bird is the stripe that runs from the beak down across the cheek or jaw. This is a distinctive feature in young Swainson’s Hawks.
Other features to look for include streaked underparts and spotting on the breast, which we can see in this individual.
What diagnostic dark marking do Red-tailed Hawks have that can help you swiftly determine their identity?
Dark patagial bar (leading edge to the wing) and belly band. The former is a diagnostic feature.
What diagnostic dark marking do Rough-legged Hawks have that can help you swiftly determine their identity?
Dark belly, tail tip, and underwing covert patches, also known as “carpal marks”.
Where and in what habitat would you expect to find Ferruginous Hawks in North America?
Photo by Magnus Manske
ID hack: those fully feathered, chestnut legs are distinctive of Ferruginous Hawks!
In open country in the western parts of North America
They are birds of open grasslands, prairies, plains, and prairie dog towns.
Where in the environment do Ferruginous Hawks most often perch?
On telephone poles (and other tall objects) but also on the ground.
What morphs do Ferruginous Hawks come in?
Light and dark, with no regional variation.
Photo by Andeansolitaire (left) and Caleb Putnam (right)
What this means is that light and dark morphs occur together and aren’t separated by region or geography.
What THREE shape characteristics can help you narrow down an ID to Ferruginous Hawk?
- Overall size! They are the largest hawk in North America.
- Long, broad, slightly pointed wings.
- Obvious secondary bulge.
What colors and markings should you look for in a Ferruginous Hawk?
Both light and dark morphs have:
1. White flight feathers and tail.
2. Darker wing linings.
3. Legs that are feathered down to the toes.
Light morphs have:
1. Rust-colored markings on the shoulders and back
2. Dark chestnut legs that, in flight, form a V against the belly.
Photo by Alan Vernon
What unique feature of a Ferruginous Hawk’s face can provide a helpful ID clue?
They have a huge (yellow) gape that almost extends to the back of the eye.
Photo source: Wikipedia Commons
The Ferruginous Hawk’s gape (or mouth) extends further back than it does on most other hawks. If you are able to get a close-up, it could provide a valuable clue. (It makes them look like they are smiling!)
As raptors of oftentimes arid open country, it is thought that their oversized gapes may assist in regulating their body temperature via panting.
Ferruginous Hawk
Adult
Note the pale flight feathers against the darker wing linings; chestnut-colored legs that are feathered down to the toes; and white tail. Also, if you’re really observant, you’ll notice the habitat in the background: open grasslands!
Where and in what habitat in North America would you expect to see Harris’s Hawk?
Photo by Terry Ross
In the desert, savannah, and arid scrub of Southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
They’ve also recently moved into urban and suburban areas
From the southern U.S., the Harris’s Hawk’s range extends down through Central Ameria to southern South America.
In what way are Harris’s Hawks socially unique?
They stay together in groups of three or more and hunt co-operatively as a group, enabling them to take down larger prey than other raptors their size.
Oftentimes, these groups consist of a female and several males or a family unit with offspring.
This is a useful clue because most other hawks are solitary in nature. If, however, you see a group of hawks perched together (and you’ve ruled out vultures) you may be looking at Harris’s Hawks.
What are the THREE shape characteristics of a Harris’s Hawk?
- Very broad, rounded wings.
- Pronounced secondary bulge.
- Medium-length, rounded tail.
This chunky, broad, and rounded flight silhouette is quite unique to Harris’s Hawk.
What colors and markings are characteristic of Harris’s Hawks?
- Rich chestnut on the shoulders and thighs.
- White tail bands at the base and tip (only).
- All dark body and wings.
- Bright yellow bill and legs stand out against plumage.
Photo by Tony Hisgett
They’re quite beautiful and distinctive in their markings!
How do juvenile Harris’s Hawks differ from adults?
Juvenile Harris’s Hawks have:
1. A variable amount of rusty on the shoulders.
2. Streaked underparts.
3. Slightly longer feathers in the wings and tail, giving them an odd flight silhouette.
Photo by lwolfartist
Like adults, juveniles have a noticable yellow bill and legs. They also share the very rounded wing profile with prominent secondary bulge.
Ferruginous Hawk
Adult
While we can’t see much of the topside of this hawk, there are enough clues in this photo to arrive at an ID:
* The legs are feathered down to the toes and dressed in darker, chestnut feathers.
* The gape is unusually long, extending far back towards the back of the eye.
* The chest and belly are white with some light chestnut markings.
Harris’s Hawk
Adult
Note the rich chestnut shoulders, handsome dark plumage over the entire body, white tail base and tip, and bright yellow bill and legs.
Harris’s Hawk
Juvenile
The coloration on this bird is mostly right for a Harris’s Hawk with the exception of some white mottling on the breast (typical of juveniles). The unfeathered, bright yellow legs and bill are an important clue, as is the white tail base and rich chestnut wash on the shoulders.
Ferruginous Hawk
Adult
Note the rust-colored shoulders and legs, which are covered in feathers. The gape is also considerably log and the chest and belly are mostly white with some variable chestnut markings.
Juvenile Ferruginous Hawks resemble adults except their legs are white.
Harris’s Hawk
Adult
Adult Harris’s Hawks show no white on the wings during flight. The wings are all-dark brown and rich russet red. There’s white at the base and tip of the tail and the bill stands out as bright yellow against its plumage. Note the broad, rounded wing shape and prominent secondary bulges.
