No, a ferruginous hawk is not the same species as a red-tailed hawk. The ferruginous hawk and red-tailed hawk are two distinct species of hawks in the genus Buteo. While they have some similarities in appearance and behavior, there are several key differences between ferruginous hawks and red-tailed hawks.
Quick Facts
Ferruginous Hawk
- Scientific name: Buteo regalis
- Other common names: Ferrugineous rough-leg, ferrugineous rough-legged buzzard
- Size: 20-26 inches long, wingspan of 52-60 inches
- Coloration: Light reddish-brown body, white underside with dark streaks
- Range: Western North America
- Habitat: Open grasslands, prairies, sagebrush deserts
- Diet: Mostly small mammals like rodents, rabbits, some birds and reptiles
Red-tailed Hawk
- Scientific name: Buteo jamaicensis
- Other common names: Redtail, redtail buzzard, pigeon hawk
- Size: 18-25 inches long, wingspan of 48-57 inches
- Coloration: Brownish above, pale below with belly band
- Range: Throughout most of North America
- Habitat: Open country with scattered trees/perches
- Diet: Rodents, rabbits, other small mammals, some birds
Appearance
While both are large, broad-winged hawks, there are some notable physical differences between ferruginous hawks and red-tailed hawks:
Size: Ferruginous hawks are slightly larger on average than red-tailed hawks. Ferruginous hawks measure 20-26 inches in length with a wingspan of 52-60 inches. Red-tailed hawks are 18-25 inches long with a wingspan of 48-57 inches.
Coloration: Ferruginous hawks have light reddish-brown upperparts and a white underside with dark streaks. Red-tailed hawks are brown above and pale below with a characteristic rusty red tail.
Markings: Ferruginous hawks lack the belly band that is seen on red-tailed hawks. The tails of ferruginous hawks also lack the red coloration that gives the red-tailed hawk its name.
Legs: Ferruginous hawks have feathering down to their toes, unlike the bare legs of red-tailed hawks.
Head: The heads of ferruginous hawks tend to appear small relative to their body size. Red-tailed hawks have more proportional head-to-body ratios.
Range and Habitat
Ferruginous hawks and red-tailed hawks occupy different ranges and preferred habitats:
Range:
- Ferruginous hawks are found in western North America from the Great Plains to the West Coast, with the highest densities in the Great Basin region.
- Red-tailed hawks have one of the widest distributions of any hawk in North America, found throughout the continental U.S., parts of Mexico and Canada.
Habitat:
- Ferruginous hawks inhabit open grasslands, prairies, sagebrush deserts and relatively treeless plateaus.
- Red-tailed hawks are more of a habitat generalist, occupying various open habitats including fields, deserts and mixed woodlands throughout their range.
The ferruginous hawk’s range barely overlaps with part of the red-tailed hawk’s range in the Great Plains region. But they tend to occupy different habitats even within this overlap zone.
Hunting and Diet
As birds of prey, both ferruginous hawks and red-tailed hawks are carnivorous. But their preferred prey and hunting strategies differ:
Prey:
- Ferruginous hawks mainly prey on small mammals like rodents, rabbits, pocket gophers, ground squirrels and prairie dogs.
- Red-tailed hawks are generalist predators whose prey includes rodents as well as other small mammals, birds and some reptiles.
Hunting:
- Ferruginous hawks primarily use perch hunting, scanning for prey while perched on an elevated vantage point.
- Red-tailed hawks utilize a mix of perch hunting and aerial hunting techniques like soaring and short pursuit flights.
The ferruginous hawk’s diet is more specialized on certain rodent prey, while the red-tailed hawk is an opportunistic predator that will hunt a wider range of prey.
Breeding and Reproduction
Some aspects of breeding biology differ between ferruginous hawks and red-tailed hawks:
Nest sites:
- Ferruginous hawks nest on cliffs, bluffs, rocky outcrops, utility towers or sometimes on the ground.
- Red-tailed hawks nest high up in mature trees or on other elevated platforms like utility poles.
Clutch size:
- Ferruginous hawks lay 2-8 eggs per clutch with an average of 3-4 eggs.
- Red-tailed hawks lay 1-5 eggs per clutch, averaging 2-3 eggs.
Incubation:
- In ferruginous hawks, only the female incubates the eggs for about 28-32 days.
- For red-tailed hawks, incubation lasts 28-35 days and is performed primarily by the female but males may help incubate occasionally.
Overall, ferruginous hawks generally have slightly larger clutches but red-tailed hawk pairs may share incubation duties more evenly.
Conservation Status
The ferruginous hawk and red-tailed hawk have differing conservation needs:
Ferruginous hawk:
- Classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and degradation, declining populations in parts of range.
- Estimates of global population vary from 20,000 to 70,000 individuals.
Red-tailed hawk:
- Has a Least Concern conservation status on the IUCN Red List due to its large, widespread population and stable trend.
- Global population includes around 2 million individuals.
The ferruginous hawk has experienced more significant population declines from habitat loss and faces greater conservation threats. The widespread, adaptable red-tailed hawk remains common through most of its range.
Key Differences Summary
Trait | Ferruginous Hawk | Red-tailed Hawk |
---|---|---|
Size | 20-26 in. long, 52-60 in. wingspan | 18-25 in. long, 48-57 in. wingspan |
Coloration | Light reddish-brown and white | Brown above, pale below with reddish tail |
Range | Western North America | Throughout most of North America |
Habitat | Open grasslands, prairies, deserts | Various open habitats including mixed woodlands |
Prey | Mostly small mammals like rodents | Varied mammals, birds, reptiles |
Nest Sites | Cliffs, bluffs, rocky outcrops, utility structures | Tall trees, utility poles |
Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
In summary, while the ferruginous hawk and red-tailed hawk are both large Buteo hawks, they differ significantly in their distribution, habitat preferences, hunting ecology, reproductive traits and conservation status across North America. The ferruginous is adapted to more open, western habitats and faces more conservation threats. So while they may appear somewhat similar at first glance, the differences between these two hawks illustrate the diversity within the Buteo genus.
References
- Bechard, M.J. and J.K. Schumtz. 2020. Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman and B. K. Keeney, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Liguori, J. 2005. Hawks from Every Angle: How to Identify Raptors In Flight. Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ.
- Preston, C.R. and R.D. Beane. 2009. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- World Wildlife Fund. Ferruginous Hawk. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/ferruginous-hawk
- avianreport.com. Red-tailed Hawk vs Ferruginous Hawk: 8 Main Differences Explained. https://www.avianreport.com/red-tailed-hawk-vs-ferruginous-hawk/