In the early 1900s, ferruginous hawks nested throughout south and central Alberta as far north as Edmonton. By 1987, nesting birds were found no further north than Coronation. Biologists estimate there are now 1,400 to 1,700 breeding pairs in the province, over half the Canadian population.
Species Habitat
Uncultivated pasture on the Prairies and arid grasslands of western North America.
Risks to the Species
Habitat loss is the major problem affecting
ferruginous hawks. Cultivation, settlement and resource exploration have
reduced prairie grasslands and gopher populations. Without sufficient food,
the hawks won't establish a nest.
This species is also easily disturbed by human activity, particularly during
the nesting period.
Largest hawk in North America. Heavy, thick-set birds with broad powerful wings. Adult females may be up to one-and-a-half times larger than the males.
Species Preferred Food
Gophers make up nearly 90 per cent of their diet. While raising their young, one pair of hawks consumes an average of 480 gophers. In Alberta, they may also eat voles, mice and white-tailed jack rabbits.
