Range: They breed in the Arctic and the Subarctic south to the Aleutian Islands, Manitoba, and Newfoundland. They spends thier winter from southern Canada south to California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Description: The Rough-legged hawk is large. When soaring or gliding the wings are usually above the horizontal. The feathers on these birds are all different colors. The light-phased adult is brownish to grayish-brown above. The edgings of the feathers are white to buff. The head is pale. The tail is usually white at the base, sometimes with dark spots or incomplete bars. The breasts are cream-colored or buff, with brownish spots and streaks. In flight, the wing appears whitish, with dark spots. The belly is usually dark brown or blackish, sometimes with white or buff spots. The dark phase is very black to dark brown above and below. The tail is brown to dark brown to black, with several white bands.

Voice: Squeal or squeak, ending on lower note, "kee-we-uk," given when nesting, excited or alarmed.