Rough-legged hawk gives a farewell flyby

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.