Kiting Rough-legged HawkKiting Rough-legged Hawk – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 314mm, natural light, not baited

Four years ago I spent time photographing a Rough-legged Hawk along the causeway to Antelope Island and later over the island itself. As I observed and photographed this Rough-legged Hawk it caught prey a few times and oddly enough I saw the hawk being bitten on the leg by the prey that day too at which point the hawk dropped the vole and then flew down to retrieve and eat it whole. The hawk spent most of the time in flight over the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake while I photographed it.

Rough-legged Hawks are known for kiting or hovering nearly motionless in the air while turning their head side to side to look for prey on the ground below them. This kiting Rough-legged Hawk was over an area near the marina on the island when I photographed it while it searched for prey.

Rough-legged Hawks will consume about a tenth of their weight per day so they spend a lot of time on the wing searching for prey on a daily basis.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to view more of my Rough-legged Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.