Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ferruginous Hawk
Buteo regalis
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) — Birds of Prey of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in North America. Adults weigh 1.4 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Buteo
- Species regalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.4 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ferruginous Hawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Ferruginous Hawk is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA sc Canada to wc USA.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.4 kg, with a wing length of about 43.1 cm and a tail of around 24.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ferruginous Hawk?
The Ferruginous Hawk is a very large bird that weighs around 1.4 kg.
Where does the Ferruginous Hawk live?
The Ferruginous Hawk is found across North America with a range covering NA sc Canada to wc USA, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Ferruginous Hawk belong to?
The Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Ferruginous Hawk eat?
The Ferruginous Hawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Ferruginous Hawk migrate?
The Ferruginous Hawk is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Ferruginous Hawk endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Ferruginous Hawk make?
1 real field recording of the Ferruginous Hawk — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Ferruginous Hawk's range?
The Ferruginous Hawk has a mapped global range of about 2.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.