Rough-legged Hawk | Tony's Takes Photography

Rough-legged hawk gives a farewell flyby

March 2, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

While I have seen many of these winter visitors in recent months, none have been particularly cooperative – except this one. I spotted it recently at a state park on the Colorado plains and after giving me some nice poses, it took flight nearly directly overhead.

This may end up being the last one I see for a while as soon they will be returning north to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. These hawks get their name from their feathered legs. They, ferruginous hawks and the golden eagle are the only raptors with feathers all the way down to their toes.

A rough-legged hawk takes flight on the Colorado plains. (© Tony's Takes) — A rough-legged hawk takes flight on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rough legged hawk makes a fast flyby

January 4, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Finally! I have historically had pretty good luck getting images of these wintertime visitors to the Colorado Front Range. This season though, they just haven’t wanted to play nice with me.

On New Year’s Eve I spotted one on a utility pole northeast of Denver and decided to give it another shot. While it did not stick around to pose, it did at least give me a flyby. It was a bit distant so the images had to be cropped more than I would like but they didn’t come out too bad.

They are absolutely beautiful raptors. During the winter, they spend time in much of the lower 48 states. Summers will find them on the Arctic tundra on northern Alaska and Canada.

A rough legged hawk makes a flyby on the Colorado plains. (© Tony's Takes) — A rough legged hawk makes a flyby on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rough-legged Hawk head on

December 8, 2018 by Tony

My first quality pics of of the season for these largely winter visitors to Colorado’s plains. This gorgeous raptor was patrolling the fields near Denver International Airport and I raced to keep up.

Suddenly it took a turn right toward me so I slammed the brakes and started shooting, capturing this image just as it flew overhead. Judging by the look on its face, it was watching me as much as I was it.

Rough Legged Hawks spend their summers in the Arctic where they mate and then spend winters in southern Canada and the lower 48.

Rough-legged Hawk takes to the skies

January 21, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

With snow falling right now it looks somewhat like the Arctic in Colorado so it seems fitting to post an image of this visitor from those lands far north.

Rough Legged Hawks spend their summers in the Arctic where they mate and then spend winters in southern Canada and the lower 48. I’ve been fortunate to see a number of these here this winter, including this one from last weekend near Denver International Airport.

One of their most notable features is that their legs are feathered all the way down to the toes, one of only three American raptors like that. The other two being the Ferruginous Hawk and the Golden Eagle.

A Rough-legged Hawk in flight in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rough-legged Hawk shows off for the photographer

December 24, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

I happened across this seasonal visitor yesterday. It was a bit indecisive trying to decide if it wanted to take off or hang out and have its picture taken. Thankfully, its hesitation allowed me to capture a nice shot of this visitor from the Arctic.

Rough Legged Hawks spend their summers in the Arctic where they mate and then spend winters in southern Canada and the lower 48. One of their most notable features is that their legs are feathered all the way down to the toes, one of only three American raptors like that. The other two being the Ferruginous Hawk and the Golden Eagle.

A Rough-legged Hawk raises its wings as it contemplates taking flight on the plains of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

No trespassing enforcer

December 10, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

This Rough-legged Hawk wanted to ensure I was behaving myself near this field northeast of Denver last weekend. 😉

Rough-legged Hawks spend their summers in the Arctic where they mate and then spend winters in southern Canada and the lower 48. I’ve been seeing quite a few in recent weeks as their seasonal population here builds. Hopefully I can get some better pics of them like I did last year.

A Rough-legged Hawk stands guard on a no trespassing sign. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rough-legged Hawk Enforces the No Passing Zone

March 29, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

Judging by the stare, this guy (or gal) means business when it comes to traffic control. 😉

This past winter there was unusually high number of these cold weather residents on the Colorado plains. While we do see them, this year there were more than normal and it made for a lot of great photo opportunities as they can be quite tolerant of people.

This particular one was keeping watch over a field, looking for a chance to snag a meal. It was certainly aware of me but chose to worry more about finding something to eat than the guy with the camera.

Rough Legged Hawks spend their summers in the Arctic where they mate and then spend #winters in southern Canada and the lower 48. One of their most notable features is that their legs are feathered all the way down to the toes, one of only three American raptors like that. The other two being the Ferruginous Hawk and the Golden Eagle.

A Rough-legged Hawk seems to be playing traffic cop on Colorado's plains. (© Tony’s Takes) — A Rough-legged Hawk seems to be playing traffic cop on Colorado’s plains. (© Tony’s Takes)

Focused on the landing!

March 1, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

Boy, it has been such a pleasure having so many of these little hawks around this winter – far more than usual. This particular Rough-legged Hawk provided me with so many awesome captures in recent months, including this one as it came in for a landing. It had chosen an area right along a busy road north of Denver International Airport as its winter grounds and clearly did not mind the traffic – or me with my camera.

A Rough-legged Hawk keeps watch on his landing spot in a tree near Denver International Airport. (© Tony’s Takes)

Rough Legged Hawk just chilling out

February 1, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

Rough Legged Hawk just chilling out. It was a very cold morning on the Colorado Front Range when I took this picture as you can tell from the frost on this poor guy. He normally is very willing to pose for pictures and this day was no different but I suspect it may have been because he simply was too darned cold. 😉 There are quite a few of these Arctic visitors here this year, far more than I have seen in year’s past. It won’t be long though and they will head north.

A Rough Legged Hawk endures a very cold morning on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)

An Amazing Encounter with a Visitor from the Arctic

January 17, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

Opportunities like this don’t come along often. I was driving the back roads of Adams County, Colorado when I see a Rough Legged Hawk sitting on a ‘No Passing Zone’ sign.

I was a bit late spotting it so stopped closer than what I normally would but the hawk didn’t seem to mind. After snapping a bunch of pics I get out and walk closer and then a bit closer still. The hawk totally ignores me – looking around, preening, stretching – never once did it acknowledge I was there.

Needless to say, I snapped a ton of pictures as I circled around it. I became a bit worried it might be injured so I went and sat in my truck and just watched it for a while. Thankfully it eventually flew off and hunted a nearby field for a good while before perching in a tree.

In the end, I got some very cool captures of this Arctic visitor. Scroll down to view the complete series.