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Ferruginous Hawk

Buteo regalis

Bird · family Accipitridae · order Accipitriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G4: apparently secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Ferruginous Hawk
Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G4 Apparently Secure[2]
Native in
18 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
23 years[4]

The Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) is a bird in the family Accipitridae[5]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe records it as native in 18 US states and territories[1][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Ferruginous Hawk G4 (Apparently Secure) worldwide[2] and N4B,N4N (Apparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)) in the United States[6]. The IUCN Red List category is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act, which only means it has no federal listing there[1]. It is on the federal list of protected migratory birds[8] and is in CITES Appendix II, which sets controls on international trade[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G4 (Apparently Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N4B,N4N (Apparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix II
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Ferruginous Hawk lives

NatureServe lists the Ferruginous Hawk as native in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming[3]. Public observation records on GBIF are highest in California, Colorado, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico[11]. Those counts follow where people look and report, not how many hawks live there[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank S2BWAIdaho: native, state rank S3BIDMontana: native, state rank S3BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SUNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNAMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: native, state rank S3BORNevada: native, state rank S3B,S4NNVWyoming: native, state rank S4B,S3NWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S3BSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank S3CAUtah: native, state rank S2UTColorado: native, state rank S3B,S4NCONebraska: native, state rank S2NEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: native, state rank S2B,S4NAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S2B,S4NNMKansas: native, state rank S2B,S4NKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank S2B,S4NOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S2B,S4NTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (18 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArizonaS2B,S4NImperiled (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
CaliforniaS3Vulnerable
ColoradoS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
IdahoS3BVulnerable (breeding)
KansasS2B,S4NImperiled (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
MinnesotaSNANot Applicable
MontanaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
NebraskaS2Imperiled
NevadaS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS2B,S4NImperiled (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSUUnrankable
OklahomaS2B,S4NImperiled (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
OregonS3BVulnerable (breeding)
South DakotaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
TexasS2B,S4NImperiled (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
UtahS2Imperiled
WashingtonS2BImperiled (breeding)
WyomingS4B,S3NApparently Secure (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)

Habitat

This hawk lives in open country such as prairies, plains, badlands, sagebrush shrubland and desert[13]. NatureServe records these habitat types: Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Desert, Cliff and Riparian[14]. It nests in tall trees, on cliff ledges, on river-cut banks, on hillsides and on power line towers[13]. It tends to stay away from places with heavy farming or lots of human activity[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[14]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Ferruginous Hawk is a carnivore[15]. In the breeding season it mostly eats mammals, with ground squirrels, pocket gophers and jackrabbits named as main prey in different regions[16]. NatureServe gives a typical length of 58 cm (23 in) and a typical adult weight of 3 lb[17][18]. A clutch is usually two to four eggs, and incubation lasts about 32 to 33 days[19]. The oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 23 years 8 months old, which is a record and not a typical age[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 58 cm (23 in)
Typical adult weight[18] 1.2 kg (3 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[20] 23.7 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 23 years 8 months
Litter or clutch size[21] 3
Gestation or incubation[22] 32 days
Female maturity[23] 730 days (about 2.0 years)
Food habits[15] Carnivore
Migration[24] local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[25]

  • 100% warm-blooded vertebrates

When to look for it

Adults are active during the day[26]. They hunt most often near sunrise and sunset[27]. NatureServe calls the species a local migrant and a long-distance migrant, and populations can differ[24]. In South Dakota, birds arrive by March to early April, and adults leave the northern end of the breeding range by late October[28]. Observation records on GBIF are highest in January, February and December, which reflects when people look and report[29].

January: 34,153 recordsJanFebruary: 22,247 recordsFebMarch: 12,089 recordsMarApril: 8,388 recordsAprMay: 9,169 recordsMayJune: 7,762 recordsJunJuly: 4,519 recordsJulAugust: 4,132 recordsAugSeptember: 6,536 recordsSepOctober: 11,532 recordsOctNovember: 20,594 recordsNovDecember: 26,449 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[29].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January34,153
February22,247
March12,089
April8,388
May9,169
June7,762
July4,519
August4,132
September6,536
October11,532
November20,594
December26,449

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Ferruginous Hawk as present in 64 park units[30]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 40 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Ferruginous Hawk endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G4 (Apparently Secure)[2].
Where does the Ferruginous Hawk live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 18 US states and territories, from Washington and California east to Minnesota and Texas[3]. It uses open country such as prairies, plains and desert[13].
What does the Ferruginous Hawk eat?
It is a carnivore[15]. Mammals such as ground squirrels, pocket gophers and jackrabbits are the main prey in the breeding season[16].
How big is a Ferruginous Hawk?
NatureServe records a typical length of 58 cm (23 in) and a typical adult weight of 3 lb[17][18].
How long does a Ferruginous Hawk live?
The oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 23 years 8 months old[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Ferruginous Hawk is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Ferruginous Hawk: G4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Ferruginous Hawk as native in 18 US states and territories: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Ferruginous Hawk from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 23 years 8 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) is a bird in the family Accipitridae, order Accipitriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4B,N4N (Apparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Ferruginous Hawk is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Ferruginous Hawk: California, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Ferruginous Hawk (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Ferruginous Hawk. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Habitat types NatureServe records for Ferruginous Hawk: Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Desert, Cliff, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Ferruginous Hawk. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 58 cm (23 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 1.2 kg (3 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  19. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Ferruginous Hawk. NatureServe Explorer
  20. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 23.7 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  21. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 3. AnAge
  22. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 32 days. AnAge
  23. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 730 days (about 2.0 years). AnAge
  24. NatureServe migration category for Ferruginous Hawk: local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  25. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% warm-blooded vertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  26. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  27. NatureServe notes on phenology for Ferruginous Hawk. NatureServe Explorer
  28. NatureServe notes on migration for Ferruginous Hawk. NatureServe Explorer
  29. GBIF observation records of Ferruginous Hawk in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  30. NPSpecies park lists recording Ferruginous Hawk as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.