- Where to see one
- 3 U.S. zoos in our directory hold ferruginous hawk, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the ferruginous hawk
The ferruginous hawk is the largest North American buteo and is often mistaken for an eagle. It breeds in the arid and semiarid grasslands, prairie and bush steppe of the interior of North America, favouring open, rolling country with perches such as poles, lone trees and rocky outcrops. Wingspan runs from 122 to 158 cm, and the legs are feathered to the talons. Rabbits and hares are major prey, along with ground squirrels, pocket gophers and prairie dogs, with the main species varying by region. It occurs in a light morph, rusty brown above and pale below, and a dark brown morph.
Ferruginous Hawk facts
- The name ferruginous means rust-coloured, after the reddish-brown of light-morph birds.
- Among nearly thirty Buteo species, only Asia's upland buzzard averages larger in length and wingspan.
- Hawks have gathered around prairie dog hunters to claim shot animals.
- It is used as a falconry bird in its native range.
Where to see ferruginous hawk in the U.S.
3 zoos across 2 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 3 zoos holding ferruginous hawk by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
