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ferruginous hawk
noun
: a large hawk (Buteo regalis) of western North America that is typically rust-colored above and white below with long tapered wings
Examples of ferruginous hawk in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In February 2024, the Seattle Times published a story on the Horse Heaven Hills wind farm, which included a map of ferruginous hawk nests — a map that was credited to Scout Clean Energy, the developer.
—B. “toastie” Oaster, ProPublica, 26 June 2024
And at the 98-acre Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, a new raptor program puts visitors face to face — beak to nose, perhaps — with the great horned owl and the Sonoran-native ferruginous hawk, among other birds of prey.
—Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2021
For seven hours, participants become acquainted with two Harris’ hawks; a ferruginous hawk; royal, snowy, and barn owls; and other birds.
—Avedis Hadjian, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Oct. 2022
Birders should also expect to see arriving winter raptors like ferruginous hawks, sharp-shinned hawks and merlin.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2019
Most were red-tailed hawks, though at least one owl and a ferruginous hawk rarely seen in Northern California were recovered, Foy said.
—Ryan Sabalow and Benjy Egel, sacbee, 15 Mar. 2018
Most were red-tailed hawks, but other birds killed included an owl, at least one magpie songbird, and North America's largest hawk, the migratory ferruginous hawk.
—Fox News, 15 Mar. 2018
Most were red-tailed hawks, though at least one owl and a ferruginous hawk rarely seen in Northern California were recovered and sent to a CDFW Wildlife Investigations Laboratory in Rancho Cordova for positive identification.
—Benjy Egel, sacbee, 14 Mar. 2018
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1875, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of ferruginous hawk was
circa 1875
Dictionary Entries Near ferruginous hawk
Cite this Entry
“Ferruginous hawk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferruginous%20hawk. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
More from Merriam-Webster on ferruginous hawk
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ferruginous hawk
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