Description
This is the largest of the Buteos and is often mistaken for an eagle due to its size, proportions, and behavior. As with all birds of prey, the female is larger than the male, but there is some overlap between small females and large males in the range of measurements. Length ranges from 20 to 27 inches (51 to 69 cm) with an average of 23 inches (58 cm), wingspan from 48 to 60 inches (120 to 150 cm) with an average of 56 inches (140 cm), and weight from 2.1 to 5 pounds (950 to 2,300 g).
Adults have long broad wings and a broad gray, rusty, or white tail. The legs are feathered to the talons, like the Rough-legged Hawk. There are two color forms:
- Light morph birds are rusty brown on the upper parts and pale on the head, neck, and underparts with rust on the legs and some rust marking on the underwing. The upper wings are grey. The "Ferruginous" name refers to the rusty color of the light-morph birds.
- Dark-morph birds are dark brown on both upperparts and underparts with light areas on the upper and lower wings.
There are no subspecies.
Read more about this topic: Ferruginous Hawk
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