Collection: Rough-legged buzzard

The Rough-legged Hawk ( Buteo lagopus ) is a Quebec raptor, particularly visible in open fields, agricultural plains and along rural roads. Native to the Arctic tundra, it migrates south to escape harsh winters, finding refuge in our regions where it mainly hunts small rodents. Its light plumage, long wings and elegant gliding flight make it easily identifiable. Unlike most hawks, the Rough-legged Hawk has legs entirely covered in feathers, hence its name. It is an excellent ecological indicator of the population cycles of its prey.