The taxonomic name comes from the word, buteo, the Latin used by Pliny for ‘buzzard’, and lagopus, meaning 'hare-footed' for the bird’s tarsi (legs) are covered with feathers that act like leg warmers ...

The Birds from the Diego Ramirez population were significantly heavier and larger (with a longer and wider bill and longer tarsi), but they had a significantly shorter tail,“ the study said.