Ferruginous Hawk locations in Arizona

Buteo Regalis

Sulfur Springs Valley in the winter is one of the most famous raptor locations in the country.  An excellent way to get acquainted with the wonderful winter raptors of Sulfur Spring Valley [as well as thousands of Sandhill Cranes] is to go on a Hawk Stalk tour offered by the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory.  The Ferruginous Hawk is perhaps the crowning jewel of this region in the winter.  The largest of North American buteos, it also is stunningly beautiful.  It is also pretty simple to find; just travel route 191 south of I-10 past McNeal, scanning telephone poles and the ground in the heavily agricultural regions, and you are sure to spot them.

For a slightly less regular but much more accessible Ferruginous Hawk location in Arizona, travel the farm roads west of the Marana exit of I-10 during the winter, northwest of Tucson.  Two hours in this region in December 2004 netted us Ferruginous Hawks, Prairie Falcons, Peregrine Falcons, Northern Harriers, Red-Tailed Hawks [dark and light morphs], American Kestrels, Merlin, Cooper's Hawks, Sharp-Shinned Hawks, and more!

Website and all images copyright 1999-2005 Peter and Amanda Lewis.