Hobbies And Interests

What Is the Biggest Hawk?

The largest hawk is the Ferruginous hawk, weighing approximately 4 lbs. and measuring 22 inches to 27 inches in length with a 52 inch to 56 inch wingspan. Not only is it the largest hawk, but it also builds the largest nests. Yet, it is the least vocal of the buteo hawks. Usually their high-pitched cries are only produced out of anger.
  1. Name

    • Ferruginous is derived from the word farrago which indicates the color of rust due to the red color of most Ferruginous hawks. Ferruginous hawks are also called squirrel, gopher or eagle hawks. The scientific name of the Ferruginous hawk is buteo regalis. In Latin, the phrase means royal hawk. The word regalis may refer to the regal quality of the Ferruginous hawk or to where the hawk was initially studied, Real del Monte, Mexico.

    Offspring

    • The Ferruginous hawk closely guards its young, located in nests near colonies of western ground squirrels, a favorite prey. Offspring hatch from large clutches of eggs, clutches referring to all the offspring born at one time. Large amounts of eggs indicate large amounts of protein in the female hawk's diet, rare for any bird species. Baby Ferruginous hawks are raised by their parents to impart flight skills. During seasons when primary prey is unavailable, hunting is taken over by the female while the offspring perfect flying ability. Once accomplished the offspring are abandoned and forced to survive alone.

    Diet

    • Ground squirrels comprise the majority of Ferruginous hawk diet from April to August. Prey during the remainder of the year may be rodents, owls, rabbits and even other hawks. The Ferruginous hawk uses the same general attack process each time it hunts. It watches prey until ready to strike, marking the last known location of the prey in its mind. Then, obscured by things like trees and mountains, the hawk dives toward its prey keeping low to the ground. It maintains its trail of the prey even when movements are minimal.

    Conservation

    • Ferruginous hawks can benefit from conservation for several reasons. Prairie dogs and ground squirrels are exterminated by humans as part of property maintenance. This act threatens the major food source of the Ferruginous hawk, which is already considered a threatened species by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild. Ferruginous hawks are also located in a small area, the interior plains and deserts of North America, where it only nests in desired conditions.


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