Farr Cross, a Rough-legged Hawk we’re tracking with the Rough-legged Hawk Project, has returned to Vermont for the winter! This season, he’s been frequenting an area northwest of Middlebury. Outfitted with a GPS transmitter in winter 2022, Farr Cross has successfully migrated to and from the Arctic multiple times, providing consistent data over the past three years.

Additionally, our VINS team banded another Rough-legged Hawk during this winter’s raptor monitoring project. Banding data is crucial for understanding their movements.

Farr Cross Rough-legged Hawk with a GPS transmitter

Tracking map of Farr Cross’s movement

Farr Cross Rough-legged Hawk

Rough-legged Hawks (Buteo lagopus) breed in Arctic regions, nesting on cliffs or ground sites. In winter, they migrate to southern Canada and the northern United States, often seen perched on poles or hovering over open fields and marshes in search of small rodents. Notably, they’re one of the few hawk species with feathered legs, an adaptation for cold climates. Their plumage varies, with light morphs displaying pale undersides and dark belly bands, while dark morphs are predominantly brown or blackish.

The Rough-legged Hawk Project, initiated in 2014 by Jeff Kidd and Neil Paprocki, aims to study the movement ecology of these hawks across North America. Through tracking and banding, the project seeks to uncover migration patterns and habitat needs, enhancing conservation efforts for this understudied raptor.

Sources:
allaboutbirds.org
usgs.gov