Endemic to Hawaii and endangered. Found only on the Big Island of Hawaii. This male hawk was photographed at the Panewa Zoo in Hilo. I observe Io's in the wild frequently in a variety of habitats and elevations on the windward side of the island.
The Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus), called the Rough-legged Hawk in North America, is a medium-large bird of prey. It is found in Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America and Eurasia during the breeding season and migrates south for the winter.