Range:

Northern and western United States to British Columbia. These birds are paleoarctic with them sometimes wintering in Utah.

Habitat:

Open grasslands and forest edges.

Characteristics:

Body dark brown above and below, usually shows a lot of white at bases of primaries; tail pale, dark at end. Sometimes streaked with spotted white and brown. Eyes brown to yellow. Yellow legs feathered to toes.  Two distinct color phases are seen, a light and a dark

 

Behavior:

This common broad-winged hawk is often seen on top of telephone poles along Utah roads. Hunting from a high perch or soaring over open fields, they are very valuable for controlling rodents in farming areas. Often hunts at dusk.

Reproduction:

2-7 white, blotched or brown streaked eggs are laid and incubated for 28-31 days. Incubation is usually done by the female. The young leave the nest about 41 days after hatching.