Rough-legged hawk

[MontanaDave]

I live in a high elevation valley that has many winter migrant raptors.
One of the most common is the rough-legged hawk,
named because it's legs are feathered all the way down the feet.

We see this species here in western Montana only in the winter,
as it breeds in the tundra thousands of KM to the north.

This species also does a daily local migration from the valley to roost
in the mountains every evening, then returns from the mountains to the valley at dawn.

 

[Jeff1579 79]

A very good shot ...

 

[Digger...]

Clean shot, im so happy he doesn't have a bunny in his claws.

 

[jeffashman39 3]

Very nice image!