Ferruginous Hawk

(Buteo regalis)

This raptor gets its common name from its rusty-colored plumage. It prefers arid, open grasslands, ranging from prairie and steppe to chaparral scrub communities. The largest of the North American Buteos, adults can grow up to 27 inches in length and can weigh up to 5 pounds. They have long wings, a broad rusty tail, and white to brown variations in the plumage.