The Ferruginous Hawk derived its name for its rusty reddish colored leg feathers. The word ferrum is Latin for iron. The scientific name is Buteo regalis or royal Hawk. The leg feathers give it a rough appearance accounting for the order name of Ferrugineous Rough-leg Hawk. Buteo hawks are known as “buzzards” in Europe and the Ferruginous Hawk is the largest of the Buteo group.