Red-tailed |
Swainson's |
Ferruginous |
Rough-legged |
|
Identification |
Most common buteo of Utah. Light phase: dark head, belly band, white chest. Reddish tail in adult. | Smallest of Utah buteos. Light phase: dark head, chest primaries, Belly, wing lining light. | Feathered legs. Largest buteo. Appears whitish. Tail whitish-buff tint at tip. Legs form reddis-brown V when in flight. White patch in wings. | Feathered legs. Normal phase: light head, dark belly band, black wrist patches, white base of tail. |
Distribution |
Widespread in North America and Utah. | Western & central U.S. & Canada. Migrates to South America. Utah: widespread summer only. | Western North America. Utah: desert plains and valleys. | Northern Hemisphere. Across Utah in winter. Common. |
Habitat |
Deserts to high mountains. All Utah habitats. | Valleys. Deserts. Agricultural areas. High mountain valleys. Open country. | Desert valleys and benches. Pinyon/juniper edges. | Open areas. Desert valleys. Agricultural areas. |
Nesting |
Begins in April. 2-4 young. Nests in cliff, tall trees. No ground nesting. Build large stick nests. Often in cottonwoods. | Flimsy nest builder. Tree nester - single or on edge of grove. 2-4 eggs & young. May-June. | Nests in small pinyon/juniper tree, cliff, or on ground. Large nests constructed. Begins in April. 2-4 young. | Does not nest in Utah. Nests in Canada and Alaska, tundra and forests. |
Biology |
Year-round resident. Prey: 90% mammals, jack rabbits, and others. Popular falconry bird. | Strong migrator. Diet: insects & small mammals. Often migrates in kettles (concentrations of up to 80-100). Not found in Utah in winter. | A sensitive hawk. May abandon nest site if disturbed. Many migrate. Some year-round. | Found in Utah only in winter months. Migrates from North similar to Bald Eagle. Often perches on poles. Diet: small mammals. |
Locations |
W. Provo, Spanish Fork River bottoms, Goshen, West side of Utah Lake, Saratoga, Diamond Fork. | Goshen-Elberta, Strawberry Valley, Cedar Valley, Mona/Nephi. | South Elberta, West side of Utah Lake, Mona Valley, Cedar Valley, Grassy Valley. | West side of Utah Lake, Cedar Valley, Rush Valley, Sanpete Valley. |
Source of data: Dennis Shirley. Web adaptation: Jim Bailey. Copyright 2004