Rough-legged Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk   Buteo lagopus

(Rough-legged Buzzard, in Europe and Asia)

This is another species that breeds in the Arctic and winters in Southern Canada and the U.S.  They are named for the feathering that goes down the leg to base of the toes.

I saw 8 yesterday afternoon.  Most will continue south, but a few will stay around here for the next few months.

The Rough-legged Hawk is one of the few raptors that hovers while hunting.   It's quite easy to identify from below because of the black patches at the wrists.