CORNELL LAB of ORNITHOLOGY LIBRARY at Sapsucker Woods Illustration of Bank Swallow by Louis Agassiz Fuertes LABORATORY OF ORNITHOLOGY CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NEW YORK DATE DUE PRINTED IN U.S.A. GAYLORD z U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DIVISION OF ORNITHOLOGY AND MAMMALOGY ; BULLETIN No. 3 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES IN THEIR RELATION TO AGRICULTURE PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF Dr. Cc. HART MERRIAM, ORNITHOLOGIST BY A. K. FISHER, M. D. ASSISTANT ORNITHOLOGIST ~ TAs keled bey Ob, Ride way] PURLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1893 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, , U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DIVISION OF ORNITHOLOGY AND MAMMALOGY, Washington, D. C., October 5, 1892. Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, as Bulletin No. 3 of this Division, a report on the Hawks and Owls of the United States, with special reference to the economic status of the various species, by Dr. A. K. Fisher, assistant ornithologist. This work was written several years ago, but was withheld from publication until provision could be made for suitable reproduction of the colored illustrations, without which the bulletin would have been of comparatively little value to the class of readers for whose benefit it was specially prepared. The statements herein contained respecting the food of the various hawks and owls are based on the critical examination, by scientific experts, of the actual contents of about 2,700 stomachs of these birds, and consequently may be fairly regarded as a truthful showing of the normal food of each species. The result proves that a class of birds commonly looked upon as enemies to the farmer, and indiscriminately destroyed whenever occasion offers, really rank among his best friends, and with few exceptions should be preserved, and encouraged to take up their abode in the neighborhood of his home. Only six of the 73 species and subspecies of hawks and owls of the United States are injurious. ‘ Of these, three are so extremely rare they need hardly be considered, and another (the Fish Hawk) is only indirectly injurious, leaving but two (the Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks) that really need be taken into account as enemies to agriculture. Omitting the six species that feed largely on poultry and game, 2,212 stomachs were examined, of which 56 per cent contained mice and other small mammals, 27 per cent insects, and only 34 per cent poultry or game birds. In view of these facts the folly of offering bounties for the destruction of hawks and owls, as has been done by several States, becomes apparent, and the importance of an accurate knowledge of the economic status of our common birds and mammals is overwhelmingly demonstrated. Respectfully, C. Hart MERRIAM, Chief of Division. Hon. J. M. Rusx, Secretary of Agriculture. CONTENTS. Letter of transmittal <0 cic ssce eisai cui eSieaeeet as base aaegee a ene ceaee one Table of contents.........---..-...-2--. MOS RG Moses wR EA PES ase List of illustrations Introduction osccecnwe gene sieecasmccces sveesteenvexess sseeeeounr oe te eeee denne Biographies of species: Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus).......----- 222-222-2222 22 0-22 ee White-tailed Kite (Hlanus leucurus) ..........22-. 2-222-022-2222 2022 eee ee Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)...........-..--2---2.2222---2-- Everglade Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)...........-2--------222-220022- 22+ Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonius)..-.-..-.-.- 22-22-2222 220-22 cece eee eee eee Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter velox) .......--2 22222222222 eee ee eee nee Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperi) meer Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus)...........--2 2-2-2022 eee ee eee eee Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi).......2-.-2.2222- 0222-2222 eee Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis) ........2.--2.22-222 2200s eee eee eee eee ee Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)....-.-.-...--22 22-22-0222 2 eee eee Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo abbreviatus).........2-2-02.-202 0-222 eee eee White-tailed Hawk (Buteo albicaudatus).....-..-2-.2222-20222 2222-222 22-- Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)......---..-2 2222020 eee ee eee eee Cooper’s Buzzard (Buteo cooperi) -...-....--2-2 2-2-2 22222 ee eee eee ee eee Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo latissimus).....-... 2-22-22. -+-0 22222-20020 -20- Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)..-......2..-2--2 222-22 -02022 eee Mexican Black Hawk ( Urubitinga anthracina) Mexican Goshawk (Asturina plagiata)...-.-.--2- +2222. 2222-2022 eee eae Rough-legged Hawk (Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis) ............-.--. Ferruginous Rough-leg (Archibuteo ferrugineus)..-..-.--....2-. 222222200. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaétos) ..-. 22.2222. 2220-222 eee cee ee eee eee Bald Eagle (Haliwetus leucocephalus)....-.. 2-2-2222 2222-022 eee ee eee ee Gyrfalcons (Falco islandus et Falco rusticolus).....----.+.-2-22-2-22--2.---- Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) ....--.. 22-222 -222 2-222 eee ee eee ee eee Duck Hawk (Falco peregrinus anatum)........----. 22-22-2220 22s eee eee Pigeon Hawk (Falco columbarius) ...... Aogansne 23 tints ta datas dade Semaine ns Richardson’s Merlin (Falco richardsonii).......-.-.--. 2-222-200-2220 eee ee Aplomado Falcon (Falco fusco-carulescens) ...--..-22. 2-2-2. eee e eee ee eee Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparverius)......---.-------2 see. eee eee eee eee Audubon’s Caracara (Polyborus cheriway) .........---2-. 222-22 20ee eee eee Osprey (Pandion haliuétus carolinensis) ...-.....--2.---- 222. eee eee eee eee Barn Owl (Strix pratincola) ......-. 2.2222 cee en ne ee ee eee ee eee Long-eared Owl (Asio wilsonianus)....-.-.-- 20-02 220 cee eee eee eee eee Short-eared Owl (Asio accipitrinus)........ 22-2222. 2-2 2 cece ee eee eee Barred Owl (Syrnium nebulosum) ......-22.---- 2202 e eee eee eee eee Spotted Owl (Syrnium occidentale). .... 0.222. .02-2. 002202 eee eee eee eee Great Gray Owl (Scotiaptex cinerea) ...-2. 2.200 cece ee eee cece eee onoaw ? 62 102 104 106 109 114 114 115 128 130 132 140 145 15¢ 156 157 6 CONTENTS. Biographies of species—Contfnued. Page. Richardson’s Owl (Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni)..-.-...--2-2--------+6- 159 Saw-whet Owl (Nyctala acadicd) ...-2. 2-220 ene ne eee cee eee eee 160 Screech Owl] (Megascops a8i0)..-. 2-200 eee cence eee eee eee eee 163 Flammulated Screech Owl (Megascops flammeolus)....-...---------------- 173 Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) ....------------ 2+ eee eee eee eee 174 Snowy Owl (Nyctea nycted)...--- 2-2-2 e202 0-2 eee Lsepesed eemneesaleie: ames 182 Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula caparoch)....-.-2----- 2222 e ween eee ee cee eee 187 Burrowing Ow] (Speotyto cunicularia hypogw@a)...--.------------+---205 22-5 189 Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium gnomda) ...---. 22-222. 22220 eee e eee ee ee eee eee eee 196 Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium phalaenoides) ..-..-.---------- 22-20 189 Elf Owl (Micropatlas whitneyi) .... .2.ccee cece cece cee nes cece ee cece eens 200 ILLUSTRATIONS, Page. Plate 1. Swallow-tailed Kite (Zlanoides forficatus)........+.22-----++--++--- 20 2. Mississippi Kite (Iclinia mississippiensis)..--..-..--22.2-22 4-2 eee eee 24 3. Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonius)....22..22- 00.2222 e eee ee eee eee ee 26 4, Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter velow)......----.-.---- 22 ---2 2-2 - 32 5. Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperi)......--.. .. 22-2 22222 eee eee eee’ 38 6. Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) ........---. 22-22-22 eee eee eee eee 43 7. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis). ........ 22.2020. 0020-202 eee eee ee 48 8. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lincatus) ........2--.22222 0-20 cee nee 62 9. Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) .-......----------- 2-2 2-2 eee eee 72 10. Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo latissimus)..........------+-----------+- 79 11. Rough-legged Hawk (Archibuteo 1. sancti-johannis)........---..----- 86 12. Ferruginous Rough-leg (drchibuteo ferrugineus).-.-..---..-2-----+-- 91 18. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaétos) ....-...-2--.0+2--2 0222 eee eee 93 14. Bald Eagle (Haliwetus leucocephalus) ....-.-..--.----2---2--+ e+ ---- 97 15. Duck Hawk (Falco peregrinus anatum)......--.--+----20--02 222+ ---- 106 16. Pigeon Hawk (Falco columbarius) .....-.--..------2--22 2-22-2220 -2-+ 109 17. Sparrow Hawk (faleo sparverius) ....--..---.. 2-22 2-220 2-22 eee 115 18. Osprey (Pandion haliaétus carolinensis). .......-222-.- 2220 -2-20e2---- 130 19. Barn Owl (Strix pratincola) ......---.-.-.: Ge OuE NESS eeAe Renee eee 132 20. Long-eared Owl (Asio wilsonianus) ......-..---------22-22 22-2022 --- 140 21. Short-eared Owl (Asio accipitrinus)..........-22 2-2-2 -2-2-2 2222 eee 145 22. Barred Owl (Syrnium nebuloswm) ...-..------------ eee eee eee eee eee 150 28. Screech Owl (Megascops asio). .......----------- 2-22 eee eee ee eee 163 24. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) ......-2.. --22------ 2222-2 eee 174 25. Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia hypogwa) ..-.-.-. ---..--+----- 189 26. Dwarf Screech Owl (Afegascops flammeolus idahoensis) -.....-.-.----. 178 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. INTRODUCTION. That birds are not only beautiful but that they perform an important economic office is an almost universal belief; and it is also generally admitted that they should be protected by law and their increase en- couraged in every way possible. To the farmer, however, it is well known that certain kinds, as crows, robins, blackbirds, rice birds, and some others, are more or less injurious, and at times do great damage to the growing or ripened crops. When certain birds are known to be harmful to agricultural interests, the farmer has a right to ask that the protection of law be withdrawn from such species, and even that means be taken to diminish their numbers. At first it might seem an easy matter to class birds into two great groups, the injurious species and the beneficial species; but in reality it is very difficult, for however harmful a species may be at one season of the year or in a certain region, it may be quite the reverse at another season or in a different region. Thus the bobolink is one of the most highly-prized visitors in the Northern States, and the damage it does to the crops there is so infinitesimal that this weighs nothing against the attractions of its presence and the beauty of its song; in the Southern States this same bobolink, so changed in plumage as to easily pass under an alias, the rice-bird, does immense damage to the rice crop—a damage which amounts to over a million of dollars a year. Another example of the beneficial-injurious species is the crow. What farmer needs to be told of the unprincipled conduct of Jim Crow at and immediately after corn-planting time. The ever-present scare- crow bears mute witness to the crow’s fondness for corn and his thieving habits. But when the corn is past danger the crow changes from an obnoxious to an exemplary member of bird society, and the war he wages on the cutworm earns him no scanty meed of praise from the grass farmer. Thus it will be seen that the division of our birds into beneficial and harmful kinds is not the easy task it seems, and that even farmers may differ widely as to the status of a certain kind. However they may fail to agree concerning the species just mentioned and others that might be named, there seems to be but one opinion the broad land over as to the status of the hawks and owls; they at least are believed to be 9 10 INTRODUCTION. wholly harmful; and not only is the farmer boy encouraged to kill every hawk and owl about the farm and to destroy its nest, but the powers of the law are invoked to offer the incentive of bounties for hawks’ and owls’ heads. If this widespread belief in the harmful propensities of these birds is correct, then their wholesale destruction is laudable. If, however, such belief is erroneous, the consequences are mischievous enough. It is important to observe that all the rapacious birds are slow breed- - ers, and, contrary to popular belief, there is no good evidence that any of them have two broods a year, though of courseif the first set of eggs is lost another one will be deposited. There is every reason why they should not raise more than one brood, for notwithstanding the fact that they breed very early in the year, the young grow slowly and remain along time in the nest. Hence the tax upon the parent birds to secure enough food to satisfy the enormous appetites of their slow-growing progeny is very great, probably twice that made upon the Hicahen of any other order of land birds. State laws, therefore, passed for the destruction of hawks and owls, and offering a bounty on their heads, are very effective, either for good or evil. One of the counties of Pennsylvania paid out in a year over $5,000 for scalps of birds of prey. In the light of the foregoing facts it will readily be understood how long a time it will take to replace these birds, whose destruction cust the State of Pennsylvania so much money, in case their services are wanted. There is no doubt that this State and others which have passed similar laws have made a serious mistake; for it is indisputable that the opinion about hawks and owls, so widespread and popular, is not well founded; and it.is the pur- pose of this bulletin to set forth the results of many years’ observations with the view of dispelling the popular illusion regarding the destruc- tiveness of hawks and owls as a class. It may be stated with confi- dence— ° (1) That owls are among the most beneficial of all birds, inflicting very little damage upon the poulterer and conferring vast benefits upon the farmer. The relations which owls bear to agriculture are peculiar and important. Their eyesight, unlike that of hawks, which hunt by day, is by no means so defective in daylight as popularly sup- posed, but is keenest in the early hours of evening and in early morning. Hunting thus in dim light, their food consists largely of those ani- mals which hawks do not trouble at all, or destroy only in small numbers. The work of owls thus supplements that of hawks and materially assists in preventing an undue increase of many obnoxious rodents. Again, though owls are somewhat migratory they are far less so asa class than ‘hawks, and hence in winter, when the latter have left the Northern States for warmer climes, they remain at home and carry on their incessant warfare against injurious rodents. (2) That all hawks, with possibly one or two exceptions, are to some extent beneficial to the farmer. INTRODUCTION. 4 li Although the facts concerning the food of hawks and owls are set forth in detail under the several species, afew words are here added on this the most important branch of the subject to the farmer. For con- venience of discussion the forty-nine species and twenty-four subspe- cies of rapacious birds may be separated into four classes, as follows: (a) Those wholly beneficial or wholly harmless. (b) Those chiefly beneficial. , (ce) Those in which the beneficial and harmful qualities seem to bal- ance each other. (ad) Those positively harmful. The first class (a) includes six species: Rough-legged Hawk, Squir- rel Hawk, Swallow-tailed Kite, White-tailed Kite, Mississippi Kite, and Everglade Kite. The Rough-legged Hawk, one of our largest species, seems to feed exclusively upon the smaller rodents, and, as it is found within the United States from October to April, the number of meadow mice it destroys is almost incalculable. It passes under the name of ‘Hen Hawk,’ and many a luckless Rough-leg is shot for the latter, and per- haps a bounty collected on it, when in fact it never destroyed a hen or chicken in its life. The statement of Pennant and some of the earlier writers, that it attacks ducks and other birds, lacks confirmation. The Squirrel Hawk, a near cousin to the Rough-leg, has received its name because of its inordinate fondness for the ground squirrels, which are so terribly destructive to the crops in the far West. The four kites named above, while not so beneficial to the farmer as the two hawks just mentioned, are harmless to poultry, and feed largely upon reptiles, insects, and snails. The second class (b), those mainly beneficial, includes the greater number of species, and to it belong some of the most widely distributed and best known hawks. It includes the following: Marsh Hawk, Harris’ Buzzard, Red-tailed, Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Short-winged Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Mexican Black Hawk, Mexican Goshawk, Spar- row Hawk, Audubon’s Caracara, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, Short- eared Owl, Great Gray Owl, Barred Owl, Western Barred Owl, Rich- ardson’s Owl, Acadian Owl, Screech Owl, Flammulated Screech Owl, Snowy Owl, Hawk Owl, Burrowing Owl, Pygmy Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, and Elf Owl. The Marsh Hawk, which heads the list, is also one of the first in economic importance. It is distributed over the entire United States, is abundant almost everywhere, and may be easily recognized by its long, slim form and from the manner in which it beats back and forth over the prairies, marshes, and meadows in search of ground squirrels and mice, of which it annually destroys vast numbers. It would have 12 “INTRODUCTION. a secure place in the first class were it not for the fact that occasion- ally it seizes small birds and, less frequently, a stray chicken. Still the harm it does in this way is inconsiderable compared with the benefits it confers by the destruction of harmful rodents. The Buzzard Hawks, which include the next nine species, are large and sluggish and too slow of wing to secure such agile prey as wild birds or even poultry. Their staple food consists of small mammals, insects, snakes, toads, and frogs. The Red-tailed Hawk, in some respects the representative of the group, is one of the best known hawks, and shares with the Red- shouldered Hawk the odious appellation of ‘Hen Hawk.’ It is not to be denied that both species occasionally attack poultry, but the amount destroyed is so small compared with their other food—mostly noxious animals—that it is scarcely to be considered, except perhaps by the individual farmer whose barnyard happens to be visited by the robber. Moreover, in a large majority of cases the poultry and game secured by these hawks are the less active individuals, which frum age, accident, or disease are unable to escape from their attacks. The Red-shouldered Hawk is probably one of the most omnivorous of our birds of prey—eating with apparent relish the following crea- tures, which represent as many different classes: Mice, birds, snakes, frogs, fish, grasshoppers, centipedes, spiders, crawfish, earthworms, and snails. At least 65 per cent of its food consists of injurious mammals, and, taking into consideration also the number of insects devoured, the showing is remarkably good for the poor ‘Hen Hawk,’ especially when less than 2 per cent consists of the food which confers upon it that sobriquet. Both these hawks suffer for the misdeeds of others, and are striking examples of the effects of having a bad name. Swainson’s Hawk is another of the Buteos which is of great service, warring upon creatures which do injury to crops. Its food is much the same as that of the other hawks of this class, except that insects seem to be eaten in larger numbers. Grasshoppers and crickets are particularly sought after, and on the foothills and plains of the West Swainson’s Hawks congregate in large flocks wherever these insects are abundant. Dr. Merriam has estimated that at least 200 grasshop- pers are consumed daily by one hawk; and in the course of a month a tlock of about 165 individuals, which is a small estimate of the num- ber actually seen together in various localities feeding upon grasshop- pers, will destroy 1,000,000 adult insects—a benefit to agriculture which no farmer can fail to appreciate. When we consider the enormous amount of damage grasshoppers have inflicted in a single season in some of the Western States—Kaunsas for instance-—the great benefit that results from the labors of this and other hawks can not be doubted. Many of the game birds—as the tur- key, prairie chicken, sage cock, and quail—devour many grasshoppers; INTRODUCTION. 13 but these birds are valuable as food, and as a consequence have been nearly exterminated in some States, and their numbers are fast being depleted in all. They can no longer be depended upon as allies of the farmer. The same is true of many animals, like the skunks and foxes, and also snakes, all of which, for different reasons, are killed when- ever possible. So itis that their natural enemies having been exter- .Ininated or much reduced in numbers, noxioufs insects, such as grass- hoppers, have a chance, when favored by exceptionable seasons, to multiply to an astonishing extent; and so it is that having multiplied to a degree impossible to calculate, they suddenly assume the offen- sive, and, like an invading army, take possession of the whole country and strip it of every green thing. Surely no more economical method of holding these hordes in check can be desired than the fostering of means already provided by nature. Apparently quite ignorant of the habits of hawks and owls, the legislature of at least one of the West- ern States—Colorado—some years since passed a bounty act which in- cluded these birds. As aresult thousands of grasshopper-eating hawks were destroyed at the expense of the State—an expense by no means to be estimated by the number of dollars paid out as blood money; for if the destruction be carried far enough and the birds of prey actually exterminated, there is every reason to believe that sooner or later one of the consequences will be another grasshopper plague.* The Broad-winged Hawk is another species which feeds to a consid- erable extent on insects, destroying vast numbers of grasshoppers and crickets. It is especially fond of the larve of the large moths which feed on the leaves of fruit and shade trees, and during the late summer and early autumn it is exceptional to find one that has not been indul- ging in this kind of food. Snakes, toads, frogs, and the smaller rodents also form a considerable portion of its fare. It rarely attacks birds. The little Sparrow Hawk is the only one of the true falcons which can be placed in the present class, and, although at times it follows the example of its larger congeners and attacks small birds and young poultry, these irregularities are so infrequent compared with its con- stant good service in destroying insects and mice that they are hardly to be considered. It is, in fact, too small to cope with any but very small chickens. Grasshoppers and crickets form its principal food during the warmer months, while mice predominate during the rest of the year. Among the owls of this class which deserve special mention the Barn Owl is probably the most important from an economic point of view, and it is questionable whether it should not have been placed in the previous class, as its food is almost entirely made up of injurious mam- mals. In the West it feeds very largely on pouched gophers, and the * The writer, who passed through the counties of Bent and Logan in July, 1892, saw every indication of the commencement of another grasshopper plague, as myriads of grasshoppers were feeding on the alfalfa and wheat. 14 INTRODUCTION. stomach contents of the individuals examined and the fragments of food found about its nests reveal traces of very little else than the remains of these rodents. To appreciate properly the services of this owl it must be remembered that the pouched gophers are among the most, if not the most, destructive mammals which inhabit this country. In the South this ow] lives largely on cotton rats, another very destruc- tive animal, and at various places it has been found to feed extensively on the common rat. : The Long-eared and Short-eared Ow]s feed extensively on mice and sparingly on small birds—mostly grain-eating or seed-eating species, which are of slight economic importance. All of the common species of mice are found among the stomach contents, and as both birds are numerous the service done the farmer is correspondingly great. The Barred Owl, if any reliance may be placed upon the accounts of earlier writers, feeds largely upon poultry and game, though from more recent investigations it would seem that either the bird has modified its habits or that the statements of their destructiveness are very much exaggerated. Our own examinaticns, so far as they go, prove that less than 3 per cent of the food of this bird consists of poultry, while a large proportion consists of such rodents as rabbits, squirrels, and various species of rats and mice. It feeds quite extensively also on frogs and crawfish. . The little Screech Owl, so well known in most parts of the country, is indefatigable in its work of destroying mice and insects. It may often be seen at dusk hovering about barns and outhouses watching for mice, or skimming over the fields or along the hedge rews in search of grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. During the time it is caring for its young it occasionally captures small birds, as well as in winter when hard pressed for food. As an offset, the individuals inhabiting the city parks have learned to feed more or less extensively on the _ English sparrow, for which good service they should be particularly commended, as the English sparrow has become a most destructive nuisance. The Burrowing Owl is the only remaining species of this class which will be specially mentioned. During the warmer parts of the year it feeds extensively on scorpions, centipedes, grasshoppers, crickets, and various species of beetles, as well as on mice and ground squirrels, Few birds are destroyed by it. Occasionally when other food is searce, especially in the northern part of its range in winter, it is forced to prey upon small birds, from necessity rather than choice. There is no excuse whatever for destroying this owl and it should be protected by law. The third class (¢c) includes those birds whose beneficial and noxious qualities about balance one another. As was said above of birds gen- erally, so it may be said of hawks and owls, that frequently a species which in one place is properly to be considered noxious from its pred- INTRODUCTION. 15 atory visits to the farmyard or because of attacks on game and song birds, in another locality may be of immense value on account of its service in destroying injurious mammals or insects. For example, the Great Horned Owl, which in the East is persistent in its attacks on poultry and game, in the rabbit-infested portions of the West destroys such immense numbers of these rodents that its assistance is invaluable to the farmer. The above statement applies with greater or less force to the following species, which are included in the third class: Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Pigeon Hawk, Richardson’s Hawk, Aplomado Fal- con, Prairie Falcon, and Great Horned Owl. The Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle may be considered as beneficial to the agriculturist in parts of the country where rabbits, prairie dogs, or gophers are common, but in sections where sheep are extensively raised they ave often very injurious. The latter species, our National Bird, by preference eats fish and isa successful fish-catcher when it can not get the Fish Hawk to do its fish- ing for it. It also feeds extensively on dead fish which have washed ashore. In some localities, especially in the South, it is destructive to waterfowl, killing any and all of the species, from swans and geese down to the smaller ducks and coots. However, as it has been chosen for our national emblem, we should not begrudge it a livelihood and may, perhaps, allow it to choose what it will in the way of wild game. The Prairie Falcon, whose fondness for many of the ground squirrels causes it to follow them relentlessly, in this way nearly, if not quite, balances the harm it does by destroying waterfowl and upland gameas well as insectivorous birds. The Pigeon Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, and Richardson’s Merlin are true falcons, whose food consists of birds of various kinds, but they consume enough injurious insects and mammals to partially offset the harm done. The fourth and last class (d) includes those species which feed mainly on animals that subserve a useful purpose to man and do not to any appreciable extent destroy noxious animals. The following species are included in this class: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Goshawk, Duck Hawk, the Gyrfalcons, and Fish Hawk. Fortunately the Goshawk is comparatively rare in most farming dis- tricts of the United States, as it is a bifd of the far North; otherwise its destructiveness to poultry would be very great. Few species are more fond of poultry and game, and its large size enables it to carry off with ease a full-grown chicken. Ruffed grouse too often fall a prey to it, and on account of its partiality to this bird it is known as ‘ Par- tridge Hawk’ in some parts of the country. In fall and winter it cap- tures’ a considerable number of squirrels and rabbits and with ease strikes down a full-grown northern hare. Coopev’s Hawk is a common species in suitable localities throughout the United States and southern Canada. Much of the ill-favor with which birds of prey as a whole are looked upon is due to the depreda- 16 INTRODUCTION. tions of this, the true ‘Chicken Hawk,’ together with those of its smaller congener, the Sharp-shinned Hawk. Both species feed almost exclu- sively on the flesh of either domesticated or wild birds. When they find a farm where chickens can be captured with impunity they make daily excursions to it, and unless killed will sometimes nearly depopu- late the yard. Domesticated pigeons are particularly sought after by Cooper’s Hawk, and when a keen-eyed individual once locates a cote the destruction to the inmates is great. Quails and young grouse are also favorite food of both of these hawks. In one direction their fondness for the flesh of birds promises to be of great benefit to the country, namely, in the destruction of English sparrows. Both of these hawks have learned from experience that a desirable food and one easy to obtain is to be found in the towns, hence it is not an uncommon sight, even in the streets of our large cities, to see one of them dash into a flock of sparrows. This, however, is the only benefit conferred upon mankind by Cooper’s and the Sharp- shinned Hawks, for they very rarely attack mammals and insects. Their small size, daring, and rapid flight render them easily recogniz- able, and they need seldom be mistaken for their innocent relations. Unquestionably both species should be destroyed whenever and when- ever possible. The Gyrfalcons, the largest and most powerful of the true falcons, are rarely seen within our borders, and then only in winter. They feed largely upon ptarmigan, grouse, waterfowl, hares, and poultry when the latter is available, and occasionally on small mammals. The Duck Hawk is another powerful falcon, and one closely related to the famous Peregrine Falcon of the Old World, which was used so extensively in falconry in ‘ye olden time’ As its name implies, it is a persistent follower of waterfowl and, when these are available, it takes little else as food. In default of waterfowl it will attack poultry and, in fact, birds of any sort even down to the smallest insectivorous species. Like others of the class, little can be said in its favor. For- tunately for the poultry yards and game coveys this falcon is rare in most parts of the United States;in fact the Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks are the only two of the destructive species which are at all common throughout the greater part of the United States and southern Canada. The Fish Hawk, although a magnificent bird and one that lends at- tractiveness to many a scene by sea and river, can not be classed as a useful species, from an economic standpoint. It eats fish, and fish only, and is often a nuisance to the fish culturist. Moreover, ‘while unques- tionably its food is largely comprised of the inferior species of fish, some of the most useful kinds, as trout, bass, mullet, and others fall victims to its splendid powers as a fisher. If its fine presence and magnificent flight do not sufficiently plead in its SNYOR) then it must be put on the black list. INTRODUCTION. 17 It will be seen from the above that of the rapacious birds with which our country is so well furnished, there are but few which deserve to be put on the black list and pursued without mercy. The greater number either pass their whole lives in the constant performance of acts of direct benefit to man or else more than make good the harm they do in the destruction of insectivorous birds and poultry by destroying a much greater number of animals well known to be hostile to ‘he farmer. ‘Lhe birds of prey are all peculiarly fitted by nature to play their parts in the maintenance of the balancein the animal world. Possessed of amazingly acute eyesight, strong bills for tearing their prey, sharp talons that lock with a never-failing clutch and insure the speedy death of a victim by piercing its very entrails, added to ample and enduring powers of wing, they must be admitted to be well equipped for their occupation. They are all great eaters, and when the supply of food is unlimited are gorged during most of the time. Their digestion is very rapid and their assimilation perfect; consequently the amount of food a bird consumes each day in relation to its own weight is very great. It is well that it is so, for the habit of taking more food than is necessary for their immediate needs enables them to store up force for future emergencies and preéminently fits them for the work of keeping nature’s balance true. They are required at times, from inclement weather or other causes, to withstand great exposure and long pro- tracted fasts, which they do with little inconvenience. In the case of the birds of prey, as in some of the other orders, the indi- gestible portions of food, such as feathers, hair, bones, and the hard coverings of insects, are formed into balls by the movements of the stomach, after the nutritious portions have been absorbed. These masses, which are known as ‘pellets,’ are regurgitated from the stom- ach before a new supply of food is taken. The movements of the stom- ach so shape these ‘pellets’ that every sharp piece of bone or hard material which might otherwise injure the mucous membrane is care- fully enveloped by a felty covering of hair or feathers. In the case of some of the owls which have regular roosting places vast numbers of these pellets collect, and an examination of them will give a perfect in- dex to the character of the food devoured. No less than 2,690 stomachs have been examined in the preparation of this bulletin, and the contents are enumerated in the tables accom- panying the species. Of these, 169 contained the remains of poultry and game birds; 463, of other birds; 966, of mice; 397, of other mammals; and 623, of insects. Ifthe stomachs of the six species which feed very largely upon game and poultry are eliminated we have a total of 2,212 stomachs. Of these 78, or 34 per cent, contained the remains of poultry or game; 257, or 11 per cent, of other birds; 945, or 424 per cent, of mice; 309, or 14 per cent, of other mammals; and 599, or 27 per cent, of insects. 7626—No. 3——2 18 INTRODUCTION. As this bulletin is intended to be of practical benefit to the farmer descriptions are given of all our birds of prey by which he may tell his friends from his foes, that he may preserve the former and destroy the latter. These descriptions have been made as short and as terse as is compatible with clearness and have been stripped of all technicalities, Some little explanation is needed in reference to measurements: Length means the total length of fresh specimens from end of bill to tip of tail. Extent is also taken from fresh specimens and is measured from the tip of one wing to that of the other, they being moderately stretched. The wing measurement may be from a dried skin and is taken from the bend of the wing to the end of the longest feather. The Tail measure- ment is taken from the tip of the longest feathers to the back part of the eminence of the oil sac. Moreover, to insure the correct iden- tification of the several species, figures of the more important have been added. By means of the descriptions and figures it is believed that the farmer may readily become acquainted with the birds here treated of. Jor the benefit of those whose interest in the subject ex- tends beyond its economic side, a short account of each species is added, with some particulars of their nesting habits, etc. The nomenclature adopted is that of the American Ornithologists’ Union. The geo- graphical races, or subspecies, are included under the typical species, since the habits of both are practically identical, the main differences between them being color and to a less extent size. In closing, the writer wishes specially to express his indebtedness to Mr. H. W. Henshaw, who has assisted him in various ways in the prep- aration of the present bulletin. He also wishes to acknowledge his obligations to Dr. E, A. Mearns, U.8. Army, who kindly placed in his hands original data on the food of several hundred hawks and owls. To Dr. W. C. Avery, F. E. L. Beal, C. S. Brimley, Amos’ W. Butler, Charles Dury, R. Elliott, L. S. Foster, Gustave Kohn, Austin F. Park, William Praeger, F. Stephens, and Dr. B. H. Warren, who have fur- nished manuscript data on the food of rapacious birds, thanks are also due. A large majority of the stomachs which furnish data for the tables accompanying this bulletin and lend them their chief value were pre- sented by the following persons, to whom the writer wishes to extend his sincere acknowledgments: Ezra Acker. Capt. Charles Bendire, Howard Acker. H. C. Bennett. Dr. G. 8. Agersborg. G. E. Beyer. R. C. Alexander. R. H. Blain. C. K. Averill. C.S. Brimley. Dr. W. C. Avery, H. Broughton, jr. Vernon Bailey. E. L. Brown. A. Baker. Herbert Brown. W. B. Barrows, William Brown, A. R. Bellwood, F, L. Burns. J. E. Byington. J. L. Camp. F. M. Chapman. A. Chichister. Hubert L. Clark. G. A. Coleman. W.C. Colt. William Couper. F. F. Crevecceur, F. T. Cuthbert. E. O. Damon. L. M. Davies. J. L. Davison. F, J. Dixon. William F. Doertenbach. Freeman Douglas. William Dutcher. Jonathan Dwight, jr. L. W. Dykeman. H. N, Edwards. Capt. Jesse Edwards. W. B. Ellis. E. A. Everett. F. D. Figgins. W. K. Fisher. George Flick. A. A. Frazer. J. W. Gardner, Dennis Gale. E. Gerholtz. Cc G E.M. A. H. Hawley. J. H. Hendrickson. W. F, Hendrickson. Frank H. Hitehnock, A. H. Howell. Walter Hoxie. H. K. James. C. A. Keeler. Noah King. Gustave Kohn. Mrs. F. E. B. Latham, N. T. Lawrence. W.G. W. Leizear. Cc. J. Lemen. J. B. Lewis. Ww. A. Lewis. Clifford Libby. William Lloyd, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 19 A. W. Lord. J. Alden Loring. F. A. Lucas. H. W. McBride. R. C. MeGregor. Alf Marshall. Dr. C. Hart Merriam. G. 8. Miller, jr. H. H. Miller. J. Percy Moore. A. H. Norton. R. H. Norton. T.S. Palmer. William Palmer, F. E. Parsons, F. 8. Place. E. A. Preble. Dr: M. W. Raub. C. B. Ressell. C. W. Richmond. Robert Ridgway. C. B. Riker. Dr. William C. Rives. W. F. Roberts. Thomas Rowland. John H. Sage. W. E. Saunders. Louis P. Scherrer. Miss Mathilda Schlegel. Robert R. Scorso. J. M. Shaffer. M. Smedley. Dr. Hugh M. Smith. R. W. Smith. F. Stephens. Dr. C. W. Stiles. Benjamin Still. F. 8. Stratton. E. E. Thompson, R. J. Thompson. James R. Thurston, W. E. Clyde Todd. Willard E. Treat. F. C. Trowbridge. B. G. True. Dr. T. 8. Turner. Dr. B. H. Warren. F. 8. Webster. C. M. Weed. H. G. White. William M. Whitfield. Otto Widmann. F. 8S. Wilder. A. H. Wood. 20 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. Elanoides forficatus, [Plate 1—Two adults.] The Swallow-tailed Kite is an inhabitant of the tropical and warmer portions of America, extending north in the United States regularly to Jowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Kentucky, and Virginia, and west to the Great Plains. It has occurred casually in Pennsylvania, New York, southern New England, and Ontario. In the United States the epecies is most abundant in the States bordering the Gulf, but becomes more and more uncommon toward the limits of its range at the north. Al- though a few birds may occasionally remain in southern Louisiana and Texas, and regularly in southern Florida, the majority cross our southern border about the 1st of October to spend the winter in Cen- tral and South America, and are not seen again until the 1st of the following April. A most extraordinary exception to this usual migra- tion is given by Dr. C. E. McChesney, who found the species near Fort Sisseton, 8S. Dak., during nearly the whole winter of 1877/78. (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. 11, 1878, p. 147.) On November 17, 1881, Mr. D. H. Talbot saw a flock of fifty or more between Jamestown and « Bismarck, N. Dak. (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. vu, 1882, p. 59.) The principal food of this Kite is small snakes, lizards, frogs, and various kinds of insects. It never molests small mammals or birds. Among insects it is especially fond of wasp larve, grasshoppers, and dragon flies; and its power to change the direction of flight is most markedly shown in capturing the latter insects, for in its efforts to se- cure them it is often necessary for it to turn almost completely over in its evolutions. In Florida Dr. C. Hart Merriam often saw these Kites dart down and pick a wasp’s nest from the under side of a leaf of some high palmetto and fly off with it, devouring, while on the wing, the grubs it contained. (Am. Nat., vol. VIII, 1874, p. 88.) Mr. H. Nehrling speaks of the birds’ food in Texas as follows: “In August and September the birds are often seen in cotton fields, where they feed on cotton worms and other insects. They are particularly fond of small snakes, such as Leptophis, Rhinostoma coccinea, lizards (Anolius carolinensis and Ameiva sex-lineata). I have never seen them take a bird or a small quadruped.” (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. vir, 1882, p. 173.) Audubon speaks of frequently seeing them with long slender snakes hanging from their talons. The following is his account of an examina- tion of two stomachs collected in Texas: “In the stomach [of one bird] are six snakes, of a very slender form, and light-green color, one of them 224 inches in length, together with one large larva, 3 inches long, and two coleopterous insects. Some of the snakes have been swallowed whole, Bull No @. Div Ornithology SWALLOW-1 ye , AGHAMLES TOPTLCAAALS SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 21 although bruised, the rest broken into large pieces several inches long. * * * Jn another male shot in the same. country, on the same day, the stomach contained a slender snake 19 inches long, six lizards, and four beautiful, very large coleopterous insects, with two eggs of rep- tiles 74 twelfths long.” (Ornith. Biography, vol. v, pp. 372-374.) Mr. Henshaw informs me that he found these Kites common on the Miami River, southeast Florida, and frequently saw them in mid air feeding upon snakes, which appeared to be their favorite food in that locality. Glancing over the bill of fare of this Kite, it will at once appear that while there are many of the rapacious birds which perform greater service to the farmers in the destruction of his foes, there are few which are less injurious. The snakes, lizards, and frogs it destroys, though by no means injurious to agriculture, probably will be regretted by tew, while the insect food, especially the grasshoppers and cotton worms, not only can be spared, but their destruction may be considered a pos- itive benefit. ‘It probably breeds in suitable localities throughout its range, even to the northern limit. Its nest has been taken in Minnesota, and accord- ing to a very interesting note by Mr. Austin F. Park, it is very probable that a pair bred in Rensselaer County, N. Y., in 1886. (The Auk, vol. 1u1,p.484.) In the southern part of the United States this species begins to breed about the last of April or first of May, while farther north it is past the middle of the latter month before a full complement of eggs is deposited. The nest is situated in the tops of the tallest trees and is placed among the smaller branches, where it is well hidden by the thick foliage. Occasionally it is built toward the end of a large limb, 20 feet or more from the main trunk, the supporting branch usually being not more than a few inches in diameter. The nest often- times is a rude structure, made of sticks only, and resembles closely in appearance that of some of the herons, while others are more substan- tial, from the lining of Spanish moss or soft inner bark of the cotton- wood which they contain; rarely a nest is composed almost entirely of Spanish moss. The number of eggs in a setis usually two, though three, four, and probably even more are sometimes deposited. Audubon found a nest near the Falls of the Ohio, in 1820, which contained four young. The male is very attentive and assists the female in building the nest and incuba- ting the eggs, as well as in collecting a large proportion of the food for the young. After the breeding season this Kite is more or less gregarious; families of four or five are usually found together and occasionally flocks of fifty or more. This species is quite wary and difficult-to ap- proach, but if one of a flock is killed or wounded the others will fly around it, and a number may be secured before they take alarm and move off. 22 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. The flight is smooth and protracted, and for grace and elegance is not excelled by that of any other species. To fully appreciate its superiority one must see the bird on the wing, for no language can de- scribe the beauty of the ever-varying movements. No matter whether the bird is soaring far above the earth, skimming lightly over its sur- face, or following the different gyrations of some fleeting insect, the observer is surprised as well as charmed at the wonderful exhibition. Often it will stop in mid air, and with half-closed wings and depressed tail shake itself much after the manner of swallows while bathing. Although it often alights on trees it rarely is seen on the ground, and even when capturing its prey it glides swiftly over the surface, reach- ing down at the proper moment to secure the quarry. It generally, if not always, feeds while in mid air, bending its head downward and toward the talons to tear the object in its grasp. It drinks while skimming rapidly over the surface of the water as do the swifts, swal- lows, and many other birds. DESCRIPTION. Tail deeply forked, the outside feathers being more than twice as long as the middle pair; wings very long, narrow, and acute. Color: Head, neck, lower parts, under wing feathers, and band across rump, pure white; back, wings, and tail glossy blackish. Length: 19.50 to 25.50 inches (495 to 647 ™™); extent 45 to 50 inches (1143 to 1270 ™™); wing 15.50 to 17.75 inches (393 to 451 ™™); outer tail feathers 12.50 to 14.50 inches (317 to 368 ™™), Table showing the results of examinations of 6 stomachs of the Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus). Poultry Locality. Date. sams Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. Tas, Hawkinsville, Fla..... Mp BL 188) | wcese sens a|sepwinenaeemnsenesleeeenwnaennaneccao Lizard. grass- hoppers, tree toad, beetles. DO ..-ceeassnncsves[-ne- WO sa ca oda | aa oresienctelsy|s awd ieHiEs ese aince| medeetnenedeee ses Lizard, grass- Hoppers, bee- es. Dixon County, Nebr..| June, 1865 |....------ |. ee eee erence eee eee ee ee ee eens 60 locusts, 5other insects. DG 2:5: sieictesioisinsicicie||aa aul CO). siseisietcral| rats oieisterccial| saisiom mcicie sacred sins toca eseis seater sie 69 locusts, 3 other insects. Sarpy County, Nebr ..| Sept., 1873 |...-.--.-.)--- se eee eeee cence elec cree ee cence eee 75 insects. Woodville, Minn...... April 28/3888 |a:scwawars|sacawewsiseasecscks | seavecveseseescsst Beetle, wasp. Summary.—Of 6 stomachs examined all contained insects; 2, lizards; 1, tree-frog. Bull No3 Div Ornithology ' Plate Nt esses es soel Fee ee ST Fs FCOLHA EL. TAL SSLSSUPJOLEHLS LS ( Wide) WHITE-TAILED KITE. 23 WHITE-TAILED KITE. Elanus leucurus. The White-tailed Kite inhabits the tropical and subtropical portions of America, except the West Indies, and extends north into the United States regularly to about latitude 38° along the Pacific coast, and to 35° in the central and eastern portions. A few probably winter in Louisiana and Texas, while the species is a regular resident in the southern part of California, though, strange to say, it has never been recorded from Arizona or New Mexico. The food of this Kite, like that of the swallow-tailed, consists of small snakes, lizards, frogs, and such insects as grasshoppers and beetles. Audubon states that he found the remains of birds in two stomachs he examined, which is an experience no other naturalist has shared with him so far as known. About the first of April it begins to remodel its old nest or that of some other bird, or builds anew one. The structure is usually placed among the slender branches in the top of some lofty sycamore or live oak, in the vicinity of water. It is flat, with a very shallow concavity, and is composed of small sticks, with an occasional lining of grass. By the middle of April full complements of eggs are usually to be found; these vary from three to five in number. In the United States itis said to live in pairs or small families but never singly, though in South America Mr. W. B. Barrows informs me he never saw more than one at a time. It frequents the lowlands, where it rapidly beats back and forth over the surface of the ground, ever ready to seize its prey. The species is tame and unsuspicious, and may be approached without difficulty. Its flight is very much like that of the Mississippi Kite, but usually is not so protracted, nor does the bird attain such an elevation as the latter species. DESCRIPTION. Front of bare leg covered with minute roundish scales; claws not grooved beneath. Color: Above, pale bluish gray, becoming gradually white on head and tail; shoulders and a spot in front of the eyes black; below, en- tirely pure white. Length: 15 to 16.75 inches (380 to 425 ™™); extent, 39 to 42 inches (990 to 1066 ™™); wing, 11.50 to 13.50 inches (292 to 342 ™™); tail, 5.90 to 7.40 inches (150 to 188 ™™), Table showing the results of an examination of 1 stomach of the White-tailed Kite (Elanus < leucurus). 2 Poultry Locality. Date. or game Other birds, Mammals. Miscellaneous. birds. Stockton; Cal cnccscesis| scoccc senesced): siesssenc|seseenuasece eccics | Meadow mouse . 24 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. MISSISSIPPI KITE. Ictinia mississippiensis. [Plate 2—Adult.] The Mississippi Kite, like the other American species, inhabits the more southern parts of our territory. Itis distributed from Guatemala north through eastern Mexico and the southern United States east of the Rocky Mountains, occurring regularly as far north as Georgia, southern Illinois, Indian Territory, and Kansas, and casually to Iowa and Wis- cousin. A fewremain in the southern United States all winter, but the greater part pass on to Mexico during October, and return again in the latter part of April. The food of this species, like that of the Swallow-tailed Kite, consists of insects, such as the larger beetles, grasshoppers, and locusts, lizards, small snakes, and frogs. It never has been known to molest birds or mammals, except to drive the larger species away from the vicinity of itsnest. Three specimens which Wilson examined at Natchez, Miss., con- tained the remains of beetles; and he saw them flying about the trees feed- ing on cicadas. Dr. Coues mentions one shot at Bluffton, S. C., whose stomach was crammed with the same insects, together with a few katy- dids. It is wonderful at what a distance its keen eyes can detect a com- paratively small insect. Mr. E. W. Nelson says: “I saw them repeat- edly dart with unerring aim upon some luckless grasshoppers from an elevation of at least 100 yards.” (Bull. Essex Inst., vol. 1x., 1877, p. 58.) As regards the economic value of this Kite much the same statement may be made as of the previous species. It does little or no damage, but much good. Soon after arriving in its summer home it begins to remodel its old nest or the deserted nest of some other bird, and more rarely, when these are not available, it builds a new one. The remod- eling consists in patching up the sides with a few sticks and adding a sparse lining of Spanish moss or green leaves. The nest is usually sit- uated in the tops of the tallest trees, among the smaller branches, where it is well concealed by the foliage. The full complement of eggs, usually two or three in number, is deposited by the middle of May, though in some cases it must be much earlier, for the writer once secured a young bird in southern Louisiana the last of May which already had acquired nearly the adult plumage. This Kite is not at all shy, and may be secured easily as it sits on some tall stub; in fact, Col. N.S. Goss tells of shooting a pair from the same tree, as the second one did not move at the report of the gun, but looked down with surprise on its fallen companion. It is said to be morose and irritable in captivity and very difficult to tame. A specimen which the writer once wounded was the very picture of rage as with flashing eyes and erect crest it threw itself on its back and prepared to repel the aggressor with its talons. EVERGLADE KITE, 25 This species is fully as gregarious as any of the other Kites, and often times may be seen in flocks of twenty or more circling over a favorite hunting ground. It is observed most frequently around the border of woods in the vicinity of water, and is particularly fond of half-cleared ground where dead trees still stand, these being used for perches. Its flight is as varied and graceful as that of the Swallow-tailed Kite, is long protracted, and the bird often ascends to so great a height as to bebarely visible. While soaring high in the air its flight simulates that of the turkey buzzard very closely, and as the two birds often are seen together the Kite looks like a miniature of the other. DESCRIPTION. Front of bare leg covered with large transverse scales; cutting edge of upper bill notched. Color: Uniform bluish gray or lead color, becoming lighter on head and darker on wing and tail; inner webs of outer wing feathers partly rufous. Length: 13 to 15.50 inches (330 to 393 ™™); extent, 35 to 37 inches (890 to 940 ™); wing, 10.60 to 12.30 inches (269 to 312 ™™); tail, 6 to 7 inches (152 to 178 ™™). SS Table showing the results of examinations of 4 stomachs of the Mississippi Kite (Ictinea mississippiensis ). Poultry Locality. Date. er pane Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. irds Madisonville, La ...... May 29: 1886 | ccc ciccies aint ateieins nc ceGie-cpeisll smcmen emma de wane Fragments of in- sects. 0: sewaie ajainacie eae May 30,1886 |~.0c0ev0c=|-sercmcececetassar lsaccccvecsceceewes Beetles. Breckenridge, Tex ....| May 5,1889|.......--.|.-.-------2---220-)eee eee cee eee ee eee Grasshoppers, beetles, other insects. Ponea Agency, Okla ..| Aug. 5, 1892 |........22|----eneeeeee eee e elie eee ene ee neces 5 katydids, 3 grasshoppers, 1 cricket. Summary.—Of the 4 stomachs examined all contained insects. EVERGLADE KITE. Rostrhamus sociabilis. This Kite inhabits the whole of tropical America, excepting parts of the West Indies, and passes our southern border ‘nto Florida only. Through many parts of the everglades this bird is common, generally associating in flocks of from five to eight or ten individuals. Its food, as far as known, consists exclusively of fresh-water univalve mollusks, which it finds awong the water plants at the edges of shallow lakes and rivers or the overflowed portions of the everglades. The species it feeds on in Florida (Ampullaria depressa) is of moderate size, the shell being 2 or 3 inches in diameter, and is very abundant in suit- 26 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. able localities through the middle and southern parts of the State. When the bird has captured one of these mollusks it flies to the nearest perch and removes the meat from the shell with apparent ease and with- out injuring the latter. While collecting food it often secures five or six before returning to the nest, keeping in its gullet the parts it has extracted for the young. So far as at present known the Everglade Kite can not be said to have any economic value, since the mollusk, which appears to consti- tute its sole food, does not seem to be in any way injurious. If not positively beneficial, however, it at least may be claimed for this kite that it does absolutely no injury to man, and consequently should never be wantonly destroyed. By the first of March, or in some cases a little sooner, it begins to build. The nest is usually situated in some low bush or among a dense growth of saw grass, rarely if ever more than a couple of feet above the water. It is a flat structure, often composed of small sticks loosely placed together and sometimes receives an incomplete lining of dry saw grass. The eggs are two or three in number, two being more common. It is a very unsuspicious bird and may be approached easily while on a perch, or may pass within close range of a person as it beats over the meadows. Its flight is said to resemble more closely that of the Marsh Hawk than that of any other of the rapacious birds. DESCRIPTION. Upper part of bill forming a slender lengthened hook. Five outer wing feathers cut out on the inner web. Color: Uniform slate color, becoming nearly black on outer wing feathers and tail; head and neck with more or less of a chalky cast; base of tail and feathers covering it, white. Length: 16 to 18 inches (406 to 457 ™™); extent, 44 to 46 inches (1117 to 1168 ™™); wing, 12.90 to 14.25 inches (328 to 362 ™™); tail, 7.20 to 8.50 inches (182 to 216 ™™), MARSH HAWK. Circus hudsonius. [Plate 3—Adult male, immature female.] This well-known hawk inhabits the whole of North America, breed- ing north to Alaska and the fur countries, and wintering from about lati- tude 40° N., southward to Panama and Cuba. A representative species (Circus cyaneus) occurs throughout most of temperate Europe and Asia, wintering in the more southern portions as well as in northern Africa, The Marsh Hawk breeds in suitable localities everywhere from the southern border of the United States to the northern limits of its range, but is most common through the prairie country of the West. In the IR Th zee ee APN n Th) Bull No.3. Div. Ornithology MARC L HAW K MARSH HAWK. 27 case of a species of such extended distribution the time of nesting is very variable. Thus while in Texas the eggs are to be found by the latter part of April, in the fur countries it is the middle of June before they are deposited. The nest is always placed on the ground, usually in a marsh or prairie grown up with tall rushes, grass, or bushes, and not far from water, It is commonly situated at the base of a bush, or, in localities subject to inundation, on the top of a tussock. It is composed chiefly of dry grass loosely thrown together and strengthened by the incorporation of a few dead sticks, and as a finishing toueh a sparse lining of feathers is added. When the same site is used for several years in succession the accumulated mass of material often forms a platform of considerable size. The number of eggs in a set is usually from four to six, though as many as eight have been found. As with most of the hawks, the period of incubation is nearly four weeks. The male assists the female in the construction of the nest, in incubating the eggs, and in procuring food forthe young. During the period in which the young are being fed the male often drops the food to the female from a considerable height, as he passes near the nest, she darting upward and catching it before it reaches the ground. This hawk is very zealous in protecting its young from intruders and has been known to attack persons or dogs who have entered its domain. After the young are reared and leave the nest they remain together, and as fall advances several families unite and migrate southward, Henceit is not unusual to see forty or fifty individuals at one time scat- tered over the more extensive marshes. _ Though the flight of this hawk lacks the elegance of some of the other species, it is well sustained and often protracted. When the bird is beating back and forth over the meadows in search of food the flight is easy, regular, but not rapid, and resembles closely that of some of the herons. In the spring the male sometimes goes through a series of aérial evolutions which are highly amusing. While at a considerable altitude it throws its wings over its back, and falling several yards turns over and over much like a tumbler pigeon until near the ground, when it ascends rapidly again to repeat the performance. When prey is discovered the hawk poises for a moment over the spot and then drops quickly on it, and if unsuccessful is sure to beat over the same place before leaving. It generally devours its quarry on or near the spot where captured, instead of carrying it away. Its food consists largely of small rodents, such as meadow mice, half- grown squirrels, rabbits, and spermophiles or ground squirrels. In fact, so extensively does it feed on the last-named animals that the writer rarely has examined a stomach from the West which did not contain their remains. In addition to the above it preys upon lizards, frogs, snakes, insects, and birds; of the latter, the smaller ground. 28 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. dwelling species usually are taken. When hard pressed it is said to feed on offal and carrion; and in spring and fall, when water fowl are abundant, it occasionally preys upon the dead and wounded birds left by gunners. It seldom chases birds on the wing, though the writer has seen it do so in a few instances. In speaking of the food of the Marsh Hawk, Audubon says: “The food of the Marsh Hawk consists of insects of various kinds, especially crickets, of small lizards, frogs, snakes, birds, principally the smaller sorts, although it will attack partridges, plovers, and even green- .. Winged teals, when urged by excessive hunger.” (Ornith. Biography, vol. IV, p. 400.) Mr. H. W. Henshaw, whose great field experience in the West enables him to speak authoritatively on the subject, says: ““They were seen atallhours of theday * * * insearch of mice and gophers, which, when obtainable, constitute the major part of its food. When urged by hunger, it may attack birds; and I remember to have been once robbed of a widgeon I had killed and kept lying in the water, by one of these birds; but generally they confine their attacks to the humblest kind of game, which possess neither the strength to enable them to resist nor the activity to evade the sudden descent of their winged enemy.” (Ornith. 100 Merid., 1875, p. 416.) Dr. Coues says: “It ordinarily stoops to field mice, small reptiles, and insects. It is particularly fond of frogs.” (Birds of the North- west, p. 331.) Mr. Ridgway, in the Ornithology of the Fortieth Parallel (p. 580), states that the stomachs and crops of specimens killed at Pyramid Lake, Nev., were filled to their utmost capacity with the remains of small lizards, and nothing else. Dr. B. H. Warren gives the following summary of his investigations on this species: ‘In fourteen examinations made by myself, seven hawks had only field mice in their stomachs; three, frogs; two, small birds (warblers); one, a few feathers, apparently of a sparrow (Melo- spiza), and fragments of insects; one, a large number of grasshoppers, with a small quantity of hair, undoubtedly that of a young rabbit.” (Birds of Pennsylvania, 1888, p. 75.) There is another way in which it protects crops, albeit unconsciously, as appears from the following: “It is also said to be very serviceable in the Southern rice-fields in interrupting the devastationg made by swarms of bobolinks. As it sails low and swiftly over the fields it keeps the flocks in perpetual fluctuation and greatly interrupts their depredations. Wilson states that one marsh hawk was considered by the planters equal to several negroes for alarming the rice-birds.” (Hist. N. A. Birds, vol. 111, p. 218.) Dr. Merriam bears witness to the truth of the foregoing, for while at Georgetown, 8. C., he saw an immense flock of bobolinks driven from a field by one of these hawks, which simply passed over at a considerable height, and made no movement to molest them, MARSH HAWK. 29 Although this Hawk occasionally carries off poultry and game birds, its economic value as a destroyer of mammal pests is so great that its slight irregularities should be pardoned. Unfortunately, however, the farmer and sportsman shoot it down at sight, regardless or ignorant of the fact that it preserves an immense quantity of grain, thousands of fruit trees, and innumerable nests of game birds by destroying the vermin which eat the grain, girdle the trees, and devour the eggs and young of the birds. The Marsh Hawk is unquestionably one of the most beneficial as it is one of our most abundant Hawks, and its presence and increase should be encouraged in every way possible, not only by protecting it by law, but by disseminating a knowledge of the benefits it confers. It is probably the most active and determined foe of meadow mice and ground squirrels, destroying greater numbers of these pests than any other species, and this fact alone should entitle it to protection, even if it destroyed no other injurious animals. The following species of mammals and birds were positively identified among the stomach contents: MAMMALS. Philohela minor. Arvicola riparius. Colinus virginianus. Arvicola pinetorum, Quiscalus quiscula. Thomomys. Poocates gramineus. Spermophilus 13-lineatus. Ammodramus s. savanna, Spermophilus 13-lineatus pallidus. Ammodramus lecontei. Spermophilus mollis. Ammodramus 8. passerinus. Neosorex. Spizella monticola. Sigmodon. Spizella pusilla, Lepus sylvaticus. Spizella socialia. Tamias minimus. Junco hyemalis. Soren. Passerina cyanea. Blarina exilipes. Melospiza fasciata. Mephitis. Melospiza georgiana. Sciurus hudsonicus. Passer domesticus. Perodipus ordii. Merula migratoria, BIRDS. Mimus polyglottos. Charitonetta albeola. Rallus virginianus. Rallus crepitans. DESCRIPTION. Face encircled by a ruff of short compact feathers, as in the Owls. Adult male.—Mostly of a uniform light bluish gray streaked with white; tail barred with six to eight bands, the one nearest the end being broader and darker; tips of the wings blackish. Female and immature—Dusky or rusty brown, more or less streaked on head and neck. The Marsh Hawk may be easily distinguished in any plumage by the large white patch on the rump. 30 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. Length: 19.50 to 24.00 inches (495 to 610™™); extent, 40.00 to 45.00 inches (1016 to 1143™™); wing, 12.90 to 16.00 inches (328 to 406™™); tail, 8.80 to 10.50 inches (223 to 267™™), Table showing the results of examinations of 124 stomachs of the Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonius ). Poultry ‘Locality. Date. or gime Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. irds “Amityville, L.I.,N. ¥-| Oct. 17,1885 Meadow mouse - Washington, D. ilies Oct. 29, 1886 3 meadow mice.. Bergen County, N. J.--| Nov. 26, 1885 Meadow mouse . Washington, C is a Jan., 1887 Sratnc UO euwve aes oer Sandy Spring, Md..... Feb. 11, 1887 |..--....--| JUMCO -..----- 2 Jenene eee eee eee eee Do Oct. 2, 1887 Meadow mouse . -| Oct. 14, 1887 eisieis LO? Sad csecaieiseciese Nov. 17, 1887 |. 2 pine mice, 2 meadow mice. DO sasoe cscs as Nov. 18, 1887 |......-.-. Tree sparrow...| Pine mouse, 2 meadow mice. DO wsseiaessae os Nov. 23, 1887 |... Meadow mouse - Travare, S. Dak .. July 5,1887 |. 2 ioe go- ers. Penis, Dak. J a gs 1887 |e ee ccinal esses Striped gopher... nininidibiniclnisinig@atel|oceinie lO sie cre:sie,cills sis 2 eee Hair of striped gopher. 100 :seceees ep gonben 3 -| Oct. 4, 1887 Oct. 18, 1887 -| Sept. 17, 1887 Oct. 5 1886 Meadow mouse. Aug. u 1887 Striped gopher... -| Aug. 17, 1887 Meadow mouse . -| Oct. 17,1887 -| Feb. 13, 1887 Empty. Do Paint Rock, Tex. Washington, D. Cc East Bradford, Pa Westtown, Pa.... Oxford, Pa ... Otoe County, Nebr ... Sarpy “iba Nebr.. Dodigina’ County, Nebr. Thurs, Www Baste N. Y. Hale County, Ala Washington, D.C Kalamazoo, Mich. Do Hollis, N. H . Concord, Mass. - Montauk Pt., Li. N. Y Hackensack, N.J- Schraalenburg, N.J... Jackson County, Mo .. St. Helena Island, 5. C. alga Cc. Do Brookville, Ind. - -| Oct. -| Sept. 17, 1882 -| Sept. 17, 1887 -| Sept. 24) 1887 -| Nov. 12, 1886 -| Oct. 17, 1886 -| Aug. 30, 1878 -| Nov. 5, 1879 -| Oct., -| May 7, 1886 -| July il, 1886 -| Au “11, 1886 a ug. 1, 1886 -| Nov. 28, 1886 |.. 20, 1886 |: 1, 1881 Dec. 7, 1886 Sept. 11, 1886 Aug. 22, 1878 1869 Sept., 1864 |. -.--do.. Oct., 1864 Mar. 17, 1888 Mar 28, 1888 ‘Sept. 4, 1885 |. «| Sept. 11, 1885 |" -| Sept. 24, 1885 |. . Nov. 26, 1885 . 22, 1883 |. . 1, 1886 29, 1886 13, 1888 . 22, 1888 . 22, 1885 eee County, NY. Rensselaer County, N.Y Sept. 1, 1877 Small bird “2 warblers 3 small birds. . 1 sparrow... hug. 9, 1879 .| Field mouse .-... Meadow mouse - 2meadow mice.. Mouse.......... Reptiles, 69 in- sects. 15 locusts, 77 other insects, 71 locusts, fo other insects. Lizard, 69 1 custs. 51 locusts. Lizards, custs. O- 43 lo- Beetles. Beetles. Striped snake. 10. Frogs. Insects. Meadow mouse, MARSH HAWK. 31 Table showing the results of examinations of 124 stomachs of the Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonius )—Continued. Poultry Locality. Date. oe same Other birds. Mammals. Misvellaneous. irds. Sept. 10, 1883 |.....--.-- Meadow mouse. Oakdale, Suffolk Coun- ty. N.Y. Stratford, Conn... - Fairmount, W. Va. --.- Oakdale, Suffolk Coun- ty, N.Y. Flatbush, Kings Coun- ty, N.Y. Loye Island City, N.Y. St. George, Utah Rayne, La..-..-------- Sabine Station, La. Sandy Spring, Md. Greensboro, Ala....... Stratford, Conn Del Rio, Tex Circleville, Ohio....... Camp Verde, Ariz. Niver, Arizona. Stones Lake, Arizona. - -| Aug. 30, 1886 -| Sept. 15, 1888 -| Sept. 21, 1888 -| Feb. 27, 1889 -| Aug. 28, 1889 | Aug. 27, 1884 Aug. 26, 1885 |. Aug. 27, 1855 |. Apr. 10,1885 ay 30, 1884 Nov. 8, 1886 Sept., 1886 Mar. 23, 1888 Apr. 24, 1888 July 9, 1887 Oct. 29, 1888 Aug. 21, 1888 Aug. 22, 1888 Ang, 23, 1888 Sept. 14, 1888 Sept. 11, 1888 Sept. 29, 1888 Sept. 22, 1888 Jan. 4,1889 of water fowl. Feb. 24, 1889 Sept. 17, 1889 Sept. 8, 1889 Jan. 31, 1890 Dec. 7, 1881 Sept. 20, 1884 Oct. 18, 1884 D0 wescccraeaeeacleeecdOcascees Do .. al eaetOtc. Jecc0 Do.. -| Sept. 11, 1884 DO ccs -| Dee. 5, 1885 Camp Verde, ariz..... Apr. 16, 1887|...------. Birch Creek, Idaho. .- ave 451890 | saesxecne DO insets aceaieie seve LOKcinse siejere (aeOnaacee Clay County, 5. Dak...| Sept. 21, 1889 |..-..-.--- Woe ana raaneneets Oct. 1,1889|.--.....-. Sandy Spring, Md....- Oct. 6,1890|.....--.-- Lembhi Valley, Idaho ..| Sept. 6, 1890 |.. Portland, Conn -| Oct. 1, 1890 Do...- -| Oct. 14,1890 |. . Sandy Spring Aud simi Dec. 2,1890].-. Morristown, N.J .-....-| Sept. 23, 1890 |. - Do...- -| Sept. 26, 1890 |...-....-- WG 2 .ceeeseserea Oct. 3,1890|.......... Union County, Ky .-..| Oct. 11,1890 |........-- Amityville, N.Y ...... Mar. 8,1890|........-- Sandy Spring, Md..... Nov. 5,1891]........-. Buffalo, N.Y ......--.- Sept. 22, 1890 |.......... Westbrook, Me......-. Apr. 12,1890 |.......... Sandy Spring, Md..... Dec. 10,1891 |.......... Small birds Sparrow Purple grackle - 2 Savanna (?) sparrows. Leconte’s (?) sparrow. Savanna sparrow Chipping spar- row. Chipping spar- row (?). Indig PM vine Mockingbird, field sparrow. Song sparrow, swamp spar- row. 2swamp = spar- rows. Field sparrow, song sparrow. Grasshopper sparrow. Savanna spar- row. 2 vesper spar- rows. English sparrow 1 meadow mouse 2 meadow mice . Striped gopher. . 8 meadow mice . 2 meadow mice . Rabbit hair .-..., Cotton rats, rabbits. Meadow mice... Pocket gopher .. Kangaroo rat, pocket gopher. Water shrew ..- Short-tailed spermophile. Meadow mouse - Chipmunk. ....- 2 meadow mice... ----do -| 3 meadow mice.. -| 5 meadow mice. 1meadow mouse 3 meadow mice.. 1meadow mouse. 2 meadow mice. . 3 meadow mice, shrew. 1meadow mouse. -| Grasghoppers. Grasshopper. Frog. ‘| Snake. “| 2 six-lined lize ards, 1 grass- hopper. Empty. Indeterminate matter. 1 beetle. 32 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. Table showing the results of examinations of 124 stomachs of the Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonius )—Continued. Poultry ; Locality. Date. or game Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. irds. Harrison, 8. Dak ..-.-- Sept. 2, 1891 |..-....---[--- eee nen ee cence el ene cence een w eens fmpty. DO'ceesiicie zai os pi GO dracciess| desea scat Vadoroemenswemens |tsaae anes eeaeaeey 11 crickets, 1 grasshopper. DO) -sssiarawes ass Oct. 1,1891|.-..-...-.|-.---------e-eeeee Meadow mouse. Portland, Conn Sept. 28, 1891 |.-...-.... Field sparrow ..|.--..--.2+--..0+++ Spiritwood, N. Dak....{ July 1,1892|....------|--------------+- oe leccecemaasemaeess Empty. Onaga, Kans .....-.--- May 15,1892 }.......... Virginia rail, |.-.-...sc-ececees- young hawk. SUMMARY.—Of 124 stomachs examined, 7 contained poultry or game birds; 34, other birds; 57, mice; 22, other mammals; 7, reptiles; 2, frogs; 14, insects; 1 indeterminate matter, and 8 were empty. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Accipiter velox. [Plate 4—Adult.] The Sharp-shinned Hawk, one of the commonest and best known of our birds of prey, has an extensive distribution. It breeds in most, if not all, of the States and in the British Provinces, as far north as the Arctic circle. In winter it is found from about parallel 40° N., south- ward to Guatemala. In the latter part of September and the first of October it migrates through the Middle States in vast numbers. In southern New York the writer has seen several hundred during a day’s tramp, the majority high in the air, though a few were flying low in search of food. The northward migration in spring, in the same local- ity, takes place during the latter part of March and first of April. The food of this daring little Hawk is made up almost entirely of wild birds and young poultry, though occasionally it will take a few insects, mice, reptiles, or batrachians. Out of nineteen specimens ex- amined by Dr. B. H. Warren, seventeen contained remains of poultry or wild birds. From this data and from an examination of our more ex- tended table it will be seen how universal this class of food is. The following quotation from Audubon shows the variety of its bill of fare: “The food of this hawk consists chiefly of birds of various sizes, from the smallest of our warblers to the Passenger Pigeon and young chicken, the latter appearing to afford a special temptation to it, as has been above related. I am also aware that it feeds occasionally on small rep- tiles and insects, and I shot the male represented in the plate, on wing, whilst it held in its claws the small Shrew also represented.” (Ornith. Biography, vol. Iv, p. 526.) When a pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks find a farm where young chick- ens are easily obtained, they generally visit it until the supply gives out, or they themselves meet a tragic death. Nuttall speaks of a single bird which came every day to a farmhouse until it had carried away between twenty and thirty young chickens, Bull No 3, Div Ornithology Plate SHABD CHINNED HAWK * velour (Wits) SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. 33 Mr, William Lloyd, writing from western Texas, says that he has seen it fly away with a pullet as big or bigger than itself, and so heavy that the legs dragged the ground. (Auk, vol. rv, 1887, p. 188.) In times past when the wild pigeon was common, this little hawk caused great annoyance as well as loss to trappers. While standing in the bow-house scanning the horizon for an incoming flock, the man on watch would suddenly be startled by the violent fluttering of his ‘stool pigeon’ or of one of the ‘fliers,’ and upon looking around would find one of these little marauders fastened to the bird—a serious loss if he did not have a reserve pigeon, for hundreds might pass in easy hailing distance of his bow-house and still he would be powerless with- out the decoy. Many times has the writer stood near a bow-house and killed one of these Hawks which had been attracted to the spot from a considerable distance by the hovering stool pigeon. The following note from Mr. H. W. Henshaw shows that it is partial to this food in the West also: “Upon one occasion, while watching a pair of doves feeding upon the ground, a female of this species made a daring and successful swoop upon one of them, passing within a few feet of the observer’s head. As a further illustration of the bravery and hardihood with which this bird pursues its prey, it may be mentioned that one was observed in the town of Panquitch [Utah,] eagerly pursuing a common pigeon, appar- ently oblivious of the presence of spectators, who for some time vainly endeavored to drive it away.” (Explor. West of the 100th Merid., Wheeler, vol. v, 1875, p. 417.) Occasionally it will attack a bird many times its size, as the follow- ing quotation from Mr. Maynard demonstrates: “I once saw one strike down a fully-grown Night Heron that chanced to be abroad by day. * * * The slow-moving heron fell to the ground at once, but, fortunately for him, in falling he gave vent to one of those discordant squawks which only a bird of this species is capable of uttering, and which so astonished and frightened the hawk that it completely forgot to take advantage of its prostrate prey.” (Birds of Eastern N. A., 1880, p. 304.) Little can be said in favor of this Hawk although its daring, courage, and impudence are to be admired. On this and the two following species mainly rest the responsibility for the ill favor with which the other Hawks are regarded. A score of valuable species sufter because they belong to a class which includes two or three noxious kinds. How- ever, like most villains, it has at least one redeeming quality, and that is its fondness for the English sparrow, our imported bird-nuisance. This Hawk is gradually learning that there is a never-failing supply of food for it in the larger towns and cities. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is not uncommon in Central Park, New York, all through the winter, where the writer has witnessed it chasing sparrows, as he has also in some of the larger parks in Washington, D, C. Numerous reports 7626—No. 3——3 34 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. from various towns and villages show that the habit of visiting such places for the sparrow is becoming common. The following species of birds were positively identified among the stomach contents: Callipepla gambeli. Zenaidura macroura, Dryobates pubescens. Colaptes cafer. Colaptes auratus. Chetura pelagica, Molothrus ater. Icterus spurius. Quiscalus quiscula. Carpodacus m. frontalis. Spinus tristis. Ammodramus 8. savanna, Ammodramus 8. alaudinus, Zonotrichia albicollis. Spizella pusilla. Spizella socialis. Spizella monticola. Junco hyemalis. Melospiza fasciata. Passerella iliaca. Passer domesticus. Pipilo aberti. Vireo olivaceus. Dendroica maculosa, Dendroica virens. Dendroica coronata, Dendroica castanea. Dendroica striata. Dendroica vigorsii. Seiurus aurocapillus, Geothlypis trichas. Sylvania pusilla. Sylvania p. pileolata. Sylvania canadensis. Mimus polyglottos. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. Harporhynchus crissalis. Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus. Thryothorus ludovicianus, Sitta canadensis. Parus atricapillus, Regulus calendula, Turdus alicie. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii, Merula migratoria. Sialia sialis. This little Hawk is one of the latest to commence nesting, laying its eggs when most of the other species have half-grown young. North of parallel 40° full complements of eggs are not found until the latter part of May, and early in June sets are often taken which are only slightly incubated. The nest, which is situated usually in a dense hemlock or other conifer, though occasionally in a deciduous tree, is rarely at any considerable height from the ground, 20 feet being a fair average. The bird is said to build sometimes in the crevices of cliffs or hollows of trees, but these sites must be considered exceptional. The nest is a large structure in proportion to the size of the bird, and is _ made of dry sticks more or less compactly placed together, with or without a sparse lining of soft inner bark or green leaves. It does not always construct its own nest, for it sometimes remodels the old nest of the crow, magpie, or even squirrel. The eggs are four or five in num- ber, and are usually deposited on alternate days, though occasionally only on every third day. Among the Raptores the nest of this species is one of the easiest to find, as the parents invariably commence scolding as soon as an intruder enters their domain, even when the nest is being constructed. The flight of the Sharp-shinned Hawk is swift, but irregular, often protracted, and is identical in character with that of the two following species. At times it passes rapidly along the fence rows or darts in SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. 35 and out among the brier patches in search of small birds; at other times it may be seen passing over the country high in the air or soaring in wide circles over some particular spot. DESCRIPTION. Tail more than two-thirds as long as wing, its tip even or slightly ,notched; wing not more than 8.80 inches (223™™), Adult.—Unitorm bluish gray above, top of head darker, tail crossed by several blackish bands; below, white, with breast and sides barred dusky or rufous. Immature.—Above, dusky more or less spotted with lighter, the feathers bordered with rusty; below, whitish, streaked with brown or dusky. Length: 10 to 14 inches (254 to 355™™); extent, 21 to 25 inches (533 to 635™"); wing, 6 to 8.80 inches (152 to 223™); tail, 5.80 to 8,20 inches (147 to 208™"), Table showing the results of examinations of 159 stomachs of the Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter velox). Poultry Locality. Date. we game Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. rds. Sept. 10, 1885]...---....{...--.22.0- .| E: i D Sept. 17, 1885 mpty. Do e220 seccees Warbler . Do --| Sept. 24, 1885 -| Field sparrow .- Southold, N. Y......-. Nov. 20, 1885 |--..-..... Chipping spar- |..... row, purple ackle. Alfred Centre, N. Y-...| Sept. 17, 1885 arbler.....-.. Taunton,-Mass.-....--- Oct. 6, 1885 --| Goldfinch....... DO) pcercerseesecs Nov. 21, 1885 |... -| 2 small birds..-. Sing Sing, N. Y---..-. Sept. 25, 1886 Junco and king- et. Peterboro, N. Y-..-.-- July 22, 1886 |....----.. Small bird ...-.. Portland, Conn.......- Mar, 27, 1886 |.. sha): ARGIOIM: 3 jeibcciecteisie Maplewood, N.J..---- May 25, 1886 |... -| Oriole, swift . .- onlay Co., Pa ..| Sept. 18, 1886 Small bird ...-.. Woodstock, Conn ..... May 2,1887 seed Obivasenas ern Long Island City, N.Y.| Sept. 21, 1887 English spar- row, warbler. Greensboro, Ala ....-. Nov. 11, 1887 |. -| White-throated sparrow. Middletown, Conn ..../ Jan. 19,1887 |.-----.-.- 2 English spar- Tows. Portland, Conn.....--. Apr. 2, 1887 Robin..---....-- DO: .03 sescercesy Oct. 20, 1887 |.-. -| Field sparrow .. Fort Buford, N. Dak ..| Sept. 9, 1887 |.- -| Thrush......... Washington, D.C..... Dec. 31, 1887 Sing Sing, N.Y ....-.. Apr. 7, 1880 East Hartford, Coun -.-| Oct. 17, 1886 |-- Fasthampton, Mass...) May 9,1874 |. . South Windsor, Conn .| Nov. 4, 1887 |. - Do. Portland, Conn........ Nov. 8, 1886 |.. Do. DO cssesesicis ce see) Feb. 4,1881 Fort Buford, N. Dak ..| Sept., 1887 |.-. Sandy Spring, Md Apr. 23, 1887 Do. Do.. 2% --+-do . Do. Do --do. Do -| Sept. 20, 1887 |....-.....]--------- Do. Do. ----| Sept. 26, 1887 Small bird . Do .. wil CG. “2, TSR sonanicnien tease eneaieinswn Do. Do. {| NOV", ASST cg a c'aintaraus| semiacanenier arcachacie! eset Do. DO) sccciecnasecea NOW. 22, 1880 ecceewieerals sec samewmeraneiasis Do. Chester County, Pa ...| Nov. 26,1886 ].......... Fox sparrow, |....-..-.......... song sparrow. Do ....-.- ole nian Sept. 20, 1884 1.......... Field sparrow ..'...ccssescessscces Beetles. 36 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. Table showing the results of examinations of 159 stomachs of the Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter velox )—Continued. Poultry Locality. Date. or eons Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. 1TGs Chestet Cosy Pa. 22.) Sépt:28;, 1880 | Quail sac) 22 soccccc cect aeeslawnson vnvieeseneeen Joeecamanarsed Sept. 10, 1874 |. De Losaeeienscee Oct., 1875 |. Dotesecasuvnesers Feb. 16, 1880|.......... D Insects. Elmira, N. ¥ mglish sparrow DDO sca doccsasetes ‘Apr. 18, 1886 :..| Small bin dewsen)s Big Flats, N. ¥ ..----- Sept 23, 1886 -| English sparrow |....--.-.---.----- DO 2ecese ceepceed| se /A0rcecinces piste ne Salsistaceene Indeterminate. nes Fla..----- Dec. “2, ABST, ife-crejeinicte rsis| srciecse ancisiatarcinidioeioars |Maieratorinciatiemmeeisicie a : Sandy Spring, Md..... May 8.1888 iso. crorcea| cavavoene oats aesememensevicesiere 0. East Hartford, Conn -.| Apr. 29) 1888 May 5,1888 mouse. Aug. 29, 1887 |........-- Song sparrow. .-|. Oct. 1,1887]...---.-.- Yellow -rumped. (4) warbler. Sept.1d, 1888 (i siciecscicscis| sce ersciecentees Do. i 0) reisisiessiess| sraterstelsinrarnic| remiemrsisie s seresemew Do. Do ‘Sept. 26, 1888 Warbler ..-..-- Carter Station, Wyo -.| Sept. 15, 1888 Sparrow -..-.-- eee Station, Mont.| Sept. 9, 1888 J00:-4ci5sseeee Sandy Spring, Md..... Nov .10,.1888 4 c-seiens| sas edns sins siemce Do. Buckhannon, W. Va...| Aug. 3, 1888 -| Song sparrow. - DO si sissasccecsscns Aug. 13, 1888 Savanna spar- |.....-..-..--+---- row. Fairmont, W. Va.-..-.. Sept. 18, 1888 Goldfinch sscsii< [se ccsinsiee encinnices tee td Beach, L.I.,| Sept. 26, 1888 English sparrow}. Ogden, Utah -.... Oct. 11,1888 --| House finch... Cobourg, Canada . - Aug. 30, 1888 |.. Z Red auled. nut- |. atch. Sandy Spring, Md..... May 1,1889].......... Song (?) sparrow]...--.-.-----.---- San Francisco Moun- | Aug. 13, G80: osenee cick dein cater eee eee: | sais eet wee eeiek Do. tain, Ariz. Do ...----eee eee eee Aug. 27, 1889 |.......--. Wilson's black- |.-...-....-...---. cap. Wellesley Hills, Mass .| Sept. 27,1889 |..--.-.-.. 2 blackpoll (?) |.-.....2.---.000-- warblers. Sandy Spring, Md..... Oct. 14,1889 }.......... Heathers ciczsccfoascecrvincckiee ve’ Beaver, Pa.-..-------- Aug. 1,1889]...-...... Downy wood- |...-......--.----- pecker. Schroon Lake, N. Y -.-| Aug. 10, 1882 |....-...-. Small bird ...... St. Elena eeoy S.C .| Dec. 26,1884 |-.......-.. Savanna sparrow een MOnsmeetes Grasshopper. Dec. 18, 1888 Dragon flies. Nov. 18, 1885 Empty. Dec. 2, 1885 De Oct. 7, 1886 Do. Dec. 10.1886 Mar. 21, 1888 Do. Aug. 17, 1888 Do. -| Oct. 3, 1888 -| Nov. 12, 1888 Do. Dec. 5, 1888 Dec. 7,1886 Do. -| Dec. 19, 1886 Do. Albany ‘County, N. Y__| San: 5, 1882 Small bird ae neeclese County, | July 24) 1884 Feathers 2) Septedd) 1886)) os ccicmci d|orcnwencmsnewasicn, Do. Oct. 11, 1886 Do. oo 7, 1887 Do. O'sseces [suaaestgves (aeeean teeseecoyes yerenosesiesatiestesin Do. : ate 20, 1888 |......---.| Small bird .....-|.-----..-.22---2-- 2 SOP 6,11, VBGG iS wince eis [zseinrsmiasinadeinciciocicn!| esuwivieeieietdesiber Do. einjes fe G,o'ooSatecom 23 Jan. 30,1887 |..........| Feathers........)..-.2. eee eee eee Rensselacr County, | Sept. 4, L888 i sieicccarerccanss Flicker and j...............-.. small bird. Sept. 30, 1888 Sparrow .......- Apr. 30, 188: 2 sparrows. ..... Troy, N. ¥ Tec. 28, 1888 -| 2 chickadees... . Ga ordsville, Conn... Apri 45,1880" | os cocccas less wien eee eGine x Do. Hale County, Ala. Bove 9, 1889 Cowbird........ Sandy Spring, Ma.....| Jan, DD VB OO ce Sicha, cxcechoveil a, cphsc Shota Wiaacvarsjasesasa Do. DOveigesesnwsccess eb, 22, 1890 Fox sparrow, other sparrow. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. 37 Table showing the results of examinations of 159 stomachs of the Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter velox)—Continued. Poultry Locality. Date. ae Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. irds Sept. 24, 1889 |... . Snowbird.....-- -| Oct. 5, 1889 ]........-- Song sparrow.. -| May 6, 1889 Robin : Raleigh, N.C... Nov. 12, 1889 --| Empty. ersieinie ofersiaes Dec. 24,1889 : be Sandy Spring, Md..... May 1,1890].....-.... Yellowbird .... oa. Brenilace Moun- | Aug. 19, 1889 |.......... Warbler........ tain, A Highland ‘Falls, N. MesoOOtt. Vl USI ramets = biewiearsessawia cts eial|s sapicisinieisiets aieowleihs Do. Garrisons, Putnam | Apr. 28,1877]|......-.-.. Field sparrow ..|...-......--+----- County, N. Y. Barnegat, N.J..--.--..| Nov. 5, 1878 |........-- Field sparrow, |-.-...------.----- other birds. Camp Verde, Ariz ..... May 1,1884].....-...- Mocking bird...|.----............- Mea tlon Mountains}: |;OGt:: 13) 1884 |esciceses arc cesejectace'e co guncieannaig SERS ce aiuiste wate ale Do. riz. Globe City, Ariz Oct. 20,1884 |-.......-- Ash Fork, Ariz. -| Nov. 6, 1884 |-..-..-.-- s Do. Camp Verde, Ariz ..... Dec. 15, 1884 [-....----- Do. Yavapai County, Ariz .| Jan. 15,1885 |.........- Do. Camp Verde, Ariz ..... Oct. 10,1885 | Gambel’s!}. quail. Do .. BOO) arcinisicvara| dishes do .. Do ‘Dee. 23, 1885 Do .. -| Jan. 5 1886 | Gambel’s quail. Do.. SADE: 451886 her antenis.cis|eesixeenaisieais sey Do. Do .. -| Apr. 8, 1886 }........-- Crissal thrasher |- Do .. -| Nov. 1,1886 |.......... Mourning dove.|. Do.. Dec. 30, 1886 2 Do. Do.. Sept. 13, 1887 Do. DO pce sisi sjeraysrcigseince Jan. 7, 1888 Feb. 3, 1888 Do. Feb. 10, 1888 é Do. Feb. 18, 1888 “Red-shafted flicker. Morristown, N.J....-- May’. 21800 s:ci2cisa-asilerts veeogaesieeenmes |e eeasemeiaweed a2 Do. Madisonville, La.-.--.. Aug. 7,1890]........-- Pine-creeping |....--..........-- Grasshoppers. warbler. Sandy § Spring, Md..... Sept. 19, 1890 Empty. Do.... Sept. 21, 1890 elise cise e be Do .. olewec MO tain ciciciere Warbler . . - Do.. -do ..----.]. -| Vireo, warbler. Do.. ei ‘Sept. 23, 1890 |. Catbird DO ic ececeeweusioc: Dec. 5 1890 | evicceecencleceazanie ces cccemcis Do, Salmon River Moun- | Aug. 28, 1890 Black-capped tains, Idaho. warbler. Portland, Conn........ Oct. 1,1890}.......... Field sparrow-.|..-..--------.+++- Do ...-.-. Oct. 2.1890 --| Song sparrow. ..). ae Raleigh, N.C ...--- Oct. 1884 |... .| Flicker <2 2225: 22|e-25« Sandy Spring, Md. Dec. 9, 1890]. Tree sparrow...|.-.-. Dunn-Loring, Va....-.. Dee. 10, 1890 |. Hermit thrush .. Wayne County, Mich -| Oct. 5, 1890 |.- Robin ...... Eliot, York Conte Aug. 12, 1890 --| Warbler Sandy Spring, Md ....| Nov. 26, P89 Hes cretcstacsrealllcisecisiaccre: . Do. Portland, Conn......-. Oct. 10, 1891 é ee Do. Nashville, N. eisieenies May 13, 1892 [eimai s 1 other small bird. Portland, Conn........| May 9, 1892 Do. pany Spring, g, Me 1892. s alaidteye afatadis aie create 1892. -| Go. dfinch wpe one other small bird. Shrewebvitys Mass Au fi VSL bccn neice ee acs ceeieesnimsite : Do. DO. sas cease Do. DOs joee sinciteewiaicisicss aia Do. Soummary.—Of 159 stomachs examined, 6 contained poultry or game birds; 99, other birds; 6, mice; 5, insects; and 52 were empty. 38 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. COOPER’S HAWK. Accipiter cooperi. [Plate 5—Adult.] Cooper’s Hawk, which resembles the Sharp-shinned Hawk closely in everything except size, is less northern in its distribution. It inhabits the whole of North America from the southern portion of the British provinces throughout the United States and the greater part of Mex- ico. It winters regularly from about latitude 40° southward, though occasionally it is seen at this time of the year in southern Canada. It breeds throughout its range, and is common everywhere in suitable localities. The food of this Hawk, like that of its smaller congener, consists almost entirely of wild birds and poultry, though from its superior size and strength it is able to cope successfully with much larger birds, and hence is much more to be dreaded. Besides birds, it occasionally captures small mammals, reptiles, batrachians, and insects. Mr. Cal- vin Rawson saw one of these Hawks make a bold dash at a muskrat, but it was unsuccessful in the capture. (Ornith. and Oologist, vol., vi, 1881, p. 74.) From the following quotation by Mr. Charles F. Morrison, it would appear that in Colorado it feeds more extensively on insects than in most parts of the country: “It preys upon grouse, hares, and reptiles. Its fondness for the ranchman’s poultry is very nearly paid for by the insects it eats; both this and the preceding adding grasshoppers and bugs to their bill of fare.” (Ornith. and Oologist, vol. XIV, 1889, p. 7.) Mr. W. E. Clyde Todd, of Beaver, Pa., furnishes the following note on this Hawk: “The crops and stomachs of five young, still in the down, which were taken from a nest in the top of a tulip tree on July 8, 1891, contained among other things not identified, the remains of a brown thrasher and light-colored flesh, evidently that of a young ruffed grouse, of which there was a covey in the same woods.” Cooper’s Hawk is very destructive to domesticated pigeons, and when it finds a cote which is easy of approach, is very troublesome. Dr. William C. Avery, of Greensboro, Ala., informs us that during one year he killed and wounded at least a dozen of these Hawks before the inroads among his doves ceased. Among the smaller birds, this Hawk is very fond of meadowlarks, robins, and flickers. The writer on sev- eral occasions has secured specimens in hot pursuit of the last named bird, which gave expression to their alarm by loud and continued cries. Poultry of all kinds form a very large part of its food. Dr. Warren states that a pair of these Hawks destroyed some fifty chickens from one farm, twelve of which were taken in asingle day. The writer knew (Na SDV aO iin nieioRy | No 3. Div, Ornithology i. No 3. Div. Ornitholosy Plate 5 COOPER’S HAWK, 39 of one of these Hawks which made daily visits to a coop containing a late brood of Wyandotte chickens, and undoubtedly would have taken all but for its timely death by the gun. The following quotations show how extensively it feeds on game and domesticated birds. Nuttall says: “ His food appears principally to be birds of various kinds; from the sparrow to the Ruffed Grouse, all contribute to his rapacious appetite. * * * His depredations among the domestic fowls are very destruc- tive.” (Land Birds, 1882, p. 90.) Dr.Coues says: ‘It attacks and destroys hares, grouse, teal, and even the young of larger ducks, * * * besides capturing the usual vari- ety of smaller birds and quadrupeds. It occasionally seizes upon rep- tiles or picks up insects.” (Birds of Northwest, p. 338.) Mr. H. Nehrling says: “This very common and impudent robber is the most destructive of the Raptores to the barnyard fowls; in a short time all the young chickens, turkeys, and ducks are killed by it.” (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. vir, 1882, p. 174.) Mr. Thomas Mellwraith says: “This is one of the chicken hawks, and it well deserves the name, from the havoc it makes among the poultry.” (Birds of Ontario, }). 137.) Mr. Henshaw informs me that the Cooper’s Hawk is very partial to quail’s flesh in California and the southern territories, and that it un- doubtedly secures many victims. He once saw a young female dart into a bevy of Gambel’s quail and seize one with the utmost ease, though the birds were flying at full speed. In an instant the flock scattered in every direction and sought refuge in the bushes, from which it proved next to impossible to dislodge them. They had recog. nized their enemy and evidently knew that their only chance for safety lay in close hiding. The following examination, made by Dr. B. H. Warren, gives a very ’ good summary of this Hawk’s food: “Of the thirty-four birds which I have examined, sixteen showed the food taken to have been chickens; ten revealed small birds—sparrows, warblers, and meadow-larks; two, quail; one, bull-frogs; three, mice and insects; two, hair and other re- mains of small quadrupeds.” (Birds of Pennsylvania, 1888, p. 80.) This species is preéminently a ‘Chicken Hawk,’ as may be seen from the foregoing citations. Its devastations in this direction are much greater than those of all the other hawks and owls together, with the possible exception of the Sharp-shinned Hawk, which attacks much smaller chickens. Like the Sharp-shinned Hawk this species has learned that the Eng- lish sparrow is not only an acceptable article of food but is also a read- ily accessible one. Consequently of late years it has been much more common during the winter months in the larger parks of cities, where it spreads terror among the sparrows, 40 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. The following species of mammals and birds were positively identi- fied among the stomach contents: MAMMALS. Spinus tristis. Tamias quadrivittatus. Ammodramus s. savanna. Tamias striatus. Zonotrichia l. intermedia. Sigmodon hispidus. Spizella monticola. Spermophilus beecheyi. Spizella pusilla, Lepus sylvaticus. Junco hyemalis. BIRDS. Melospiza fasciata. Bonasa umbellus. . Passer domesticus. Colinus virginianus, ‘Pipilo erythrophthalmus, Callipepla gambeli. Helminthophila celata lutescens. Zenaidura macroura. Sitta c. aculeata, Colaptes auratus. Turdus u. swainsoni. Sturnella magna neglecta. Turdus a. pallasii. Quiscalus quiscula. Merula migratoria. An instance of this Hawk attacking a person was experienced by Mr. C.D. Walcott, in Lewis County, N. Y., August 31, 1886. Mr. Walcott was in asecluded glen busily engaged in collecting fossils, when an indi- vidual alighted near by. Almost instantly the bird pitched at him and was repelled with a geological hammer. Undaunted it made a second and more vigorous attack on the paleontologist, which was met in turn by more decided action on his part, and resulted in the death of the Hawk from a sweeping blow of the hammer. The nest is situated indifferently in the tops of the lofty trees or in the second growth within 10 or 15 feet of the ground; most authors state that evergreen trees are principally chosen for the site, though the writer does not remember of ever having found one in this situa- tion. The nest resembles that of the crow somewhat in structure and size, but lacks the finish and compact lining found in that of the latter bird. It is often bulky, the sticks composing it are quite large, and the lining usually is nothing more than the rough outer bark of the spruce, oak, or hickory. Like the preceding species, it frequently re- models the old nests of other Hawks, crows, or even those of the squir- rels. The male assists in building the new nest or repairing the old oue. When the nest is approached or even when the grove containing it is entered, the Hawks will often fly about and scold at the intruder until he leaves. The eggs, which are usually four or five in number, are deposited during the latter part of April to the middle of May, accord- ing to latitude. Even in Texas fresh eggs are found about the first of May, though as an exceptional case Mr. Nehrling found young in April. The flight of this species is very rapid, irregular, and usually is car- ried on at no great height from the ground, in all these particulars closely resembling that of the Sharp-shinned Hawk. In the ‘Birds of the Northwest’ Dr. Coues mentions three birds of this species which he saw at a ranch in Arizona. They were perfectly tame, and at the time of his visit were allowed full liberty to go where they pleased, and al- ways returned to their owner at the sound of his whistle. COOPER’S HAWK. Al DESCRIPTION. Tail more than two-thirds as long as wing, its tip decidedly rounded ; wing more than 8.80 inches (223™") and less than 12 inches (305"™). Adult.—Uniform bluish-gray above, top of head blackish; tail crossed by several blackish bands; below white, with breast and sides barred with dusky or rufous. Immuture.—Dusky above, more or less spotted with lighter, feathers with rusty edges; below whitish, streaked with brown or dusky. Length: 14 to 20 inches (355 to 508™™); extent, 27 to 32 inches (686 to 812™™); wing, 8.85 to 11 inches (223 to 280™™); tail, 7.80 to 10.50 inches (197 to 267"). This species closely resembles the Sharp-shinned Hawk, but may be distinguished by its larger size and the fact that the end of the tail is rounded instead of straight or slightly notched. Table showing the resulis of examinations of 133 stomachs of Cooper’s Hawk (Aeccipiter cooperi). 7 Poultry Locality. Date. ene Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. irds Taunton, Mass ........ Sept. 21, 1885 Do .-...- -| Oct. 6, 1885 River Vale, N. .| Sept. 18, 1886 1 grasshopper. Washington, D. c. -{ Nov. 28, 1886 Sin one Me: Sept. 7, 1880 ares Nov. 18, 1884 }...d Greensboro, Ala. Oct. 28, 1887 Empty. esevatd drei .| Mar. é Do July —, 1887 Do .. --| Aug. 4, 1837 Do. aie Aug. 30, 1887 Do. Do .-| Sept. 13, 1887 ----| Sand lizar DO owes cece s ¢ ene 27, 1887 --| Empty. Wethersfield, Con: ats hy 9, 1887 |. ee Be East Hartford, Conn 31, 1887 |... - Pe Do. Sand Spring, M Ma J. ain 14, 1887 Oo. Mar. 1,1887 Do Apr. 22, 1887 Do May 7, 1887]. Do May 25, 1887 !. Do. Do Sept. 14, 1887 Do. Do Sept. 21, 1887 Do. Do Ne 24, 1887 26, 1887 30, 1888 a il, TSB8Hiccctoesess Junco, savanna sparrow. AB, RBG: fisaccisiarciseicse EMNCO ss sicinese nae Dd ABBE: | ec econs! Small bird...... 17, 1886 | Chicken |..............--.- 10, 1887 |......---- Small bird..-... SIT ASBT | sence: laaoaede heer rece Do, 1, 1887 | cccceccess Small bird...... 20,1887 | Chicken |.-.-.........-..--- BB MOBE | cca ciseitwarces Meadow lark. ... Do.... bes BTS TBE |S acct amee Small bird -..--. New Castle Co., Del... ol raestertiee cen ears tanec ~Williston, Pa.......... Dec. 6,1878]|.........- ird...-.- East Bradford, Pa..-..| May 25, 1875 |......----|--..---------0-2-- nome Frog. East Goshen, Pa ...-..| May ice. Beetles. West Chester, Pa R Pocopson, Pa. z be West Chester, Pa ...--| Sept. 10, 1880 |.........- English sparrow]. Sandy Spring, Md..... wee 1G 1888! | sors aenee ci Sparrow ........ i Gainesville, la DeCs. 22, 1887 |acocessoce|jecseaened--cncnns Empty. Sandy Spring, Md.. Mar. 24, 1888 |.......... Song sparrow. DO 2 o-eeckee of BAER. Be ASBS |. wetcncnits lomancenccnaeeweanes Do. aoe 26, 1888 | 2 young | 1 flicker......... chickens East Hartford, Conn...! Sept. 19, 1887 |..........l..... we vidwive we unl sicleaseaiion uewad Do. 42 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. ; Table showing the results of examinations of 133 stomachs of Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperi)—Continued. Poultry | Locality. Date. a Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. irds. | pay Spring, Md..... i ee 28, 1888 |...------- I Par b eiginieaieicie | aeise ese eae see | ects sae MOiacceosse| ~---do . ‘i De ciate Biers 6 ericecisiel aanevamisced | aera --, Empty. Custer, S. Dak. - July 9, 1888 |. .| Nuthatch. Bridgeport, Conn. -| Oct. 8, 1888 |... Bird .... Greensboro, Ala.. -| Aug. 16, 1888 | ccssees vee|psaeee Do. Sandy Spring, Md.....) Dec. 4, 1888 |...-.-....|.--.-------------+/------- Do. Do dos edoasiantansaac Feb. 28,1889 |........-.|.----- Mouse......-.-- San Francisco Moun- | Aug. 4,1889|..........|------------------ Rocky Mountain} tain, Ariz. 5 chipmunk. i Greensboro, Ala-. -| Sept. 30, 1889 -° Do. M Oct. 14,1889 | Dec. 1,1889 |. | -| Dec. 5, 1889 a! Dec. 10,1889 Do. -| Dec. 12,1889 May 6,1888 slaypianisisigialareinamna Sept. 12, 1886 Sion” Ground, Long | Jan. 13, 1882 Island, N. Y. Cincinnati, Ohio.....-- May 11,1885 |........-- Youno bird : .ccctesesecccsectnescne Secciten May 28, 1885 |. -| Hermit pneuell; Bie ates Brookville, Ind. -| Jan. 2, 1885 |. -| Feathers... . Rabbit Do ...-..- Oeb., TF ASST. | se ccione mie aisicreis aeearntens Fairfield, Ind. .-| Feb. 15,1887] .........| Feathers........|..-.--..- Brookville, Ind. =| Nov. 24, 1888 |. 22cee0s oc|ccces dscns ccccecccecacscace Do. Ugh N.C. DGGE. TS ABBG | ssra wars Seer | sions sma wisememnereicieialll sara aterctateres Do. Greensboro, Ala- Sandy Spring, Md - Greensboro, Ala... Bellefontaine, Chio.... Marfa, Tex ............ Highland Falls, N.Y .- Pine qe Tonto Ba- sin, Ariz. Yavapai County, Ariz. Verde River, Ariz Camp Verde, Ariz - Do Touchet Station, Wash. Sandy Spring, Morristown, 1S ceeeee -| Jan. 3 Aug. -| Oct. -| Mar. -Y| Nov. --| Nov. -| Sept. -| Sept. 14, 1888 --| Oct. -| Dec. -| Feb. .| Feb. -| Mar. -| Sept. Feb. Sept. } Aug. 14, 1873 | 15, 1884 |. Sopt. Jan. 6, 1888 23, 1889 20, 1890 12, 1890 8, 1890 Mar. 7, 1890 June 1,1889 Jan. 22,1890 May 10, 1876 May 2, 1884 Aug. 20, 1884 Sept. 15, 1884 Sept. 16, 1884 Sept. 23, 1884 |. Oct. 24, 1884 June 25, 1885 Aug. 6, 1885 9, 1885 May 27,1886 - | Aug. 15, 1886 |. Sept. 6, 1886 |. ‘| Apr. 1, 1887 May 13,1887 Aug. 17, 1887 Nov. 1,1887 Feb. 10, 1888 Sept. —, 1890 Nov. 19, 1890 Sept. 17, 1890 8, 1887 |... 27, 1886 |... Youn g chicken : ‘Orange: 1 sparrow... 1 field sparrow. . Feathers. . Small bird Sparro Intermediate sparrow. warbler. Song sparrow... -crowned ..| 1six-lined lizard. -, Empty Do. Do. Do. Bull. No.3. Div. Ornithology Plate 6 AMERICAN GOSHAWK Accipiter célricaptllie AWK HAWK GOSHAWK. 43 Table showing the results of examinations of 133 stomachs of Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperi)—Continued. Poultry Locality. Date. or game Other birds. Mammals. Miscellancous. birds. Morristown, N.J...... Sept. 19, 1890 |.. -| Song sparrow...|....--.----.+----+ Eubank, Ky.. Apr. 15, 1889 ‘| White feathers . Union County, K Oct. 11, 1890 DO. 2 2eieies vee Nov. 1, 1890 Wayne County, Mich..| May 4,1890}.. . 3 Lancaster County, Pa .| Nov. 16, 1891].. Ee dare neeniaatearrncecine Empty. Sandy Spring, Md....- Mar. 17, 1892 |. . - Bist wars _ Portland, Conn.....-.- Mar. 17, 1891 |. - Sjass|[eneeralsete cicisisisteigreers| 2A sereresc me Do. Do ---| Oct. 1,1891 IE wise cey | oneness wield -| Oct. 12, 1891 i A eee rere Petr save May 1, 1892 sell sees a Do. Jan. ah 1891 ti aie eae Sate mes Do. 2 Galiforniaground| squirrel. May 30,1892]........-. Song sparrow...|.-...---.---+--6-- 1992 Tuly 28,1991 SumMary.—Of 133 stomachs examined, 34 contained poultry or game birds; 52, other birds; 11, mam- mals; 1, frog; 3, lizards; 2, insects; and 39 were empty. GOSHAWK. Accipiter atricapillus. [Plate 6—-Adult.] The Goshawk is more northerly in its distribution than the two pre- ceding species of the genus and is separable into two geographical races. The typical form (atricapillus) inhabits northern and eastern North America west to the Rocky Mountains and eastern Washington and Oregon; breeding in the east chiefly north of the United States and in the Rocky Mountains as far south as Colorado. The west coast race (striatulus) inhabits the Pacific coast north to Sitka, and breeds as far south, in the Sierra Nevada, as latitude 30°. The writer has seen a specimen from Labrador which to all appearances was iden- tical with those from the west coast. In autumn and winter it wanders south casually to Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, and New Mexico. As above stated, but a small proportion of the species re- main in the United States to breed, though a few are found in all the northern tier of States during that period. It is a common resident throughout the wooded portious of the British provinces, and in sum- mer occurs commonly from Hudson Bay to the Arctic Circle and through the intervening country to northern Alaska. The Goshawk, like the two preceding species of the genus, feeds largely on the flesh of birds, and to a less extent on mammals. Poultry, ducks, grouse, and many of the smaller birds, together with hares, squirrels, and other rodents make up its fare. Fortunately, in most farming dis- tricts, at least in the United States, it is comparatively rare except during the fall and winter months, otherwise its depredations among the 44 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. poultry would be avery serious matter. Its large size and greater strength enable it to carry off heavier quarry than Cooper’s Hawk, and consequently its powers for mischief are more to be dreaded by the poultrymen. Mr. L. M. Turner states that in Alaska the lemming forms a consideral part of its food. This species is one of the most daring of all the Hawks, and while in pursuit of its prey is apparently less concerned by the presence of man than any other. It will dart down unexpectedly at the very feet of the farmer and carry off a fowl. The following from the pen of the late Dr. William Wood gives evidence of its boldness: “The goshawk is the most daring and venturesome of any of our diurnal birds of prey. A farmer who resides a few miles from my office, wishing to perpetuate the old New England custom of having a chicken pie for Thanksgiving dinner, caught some fowls, took them to a log, severed the neck of one, and threw it down beside him. In an instant a goshawk seized the struggling fowl, and, flying off some ten rods, alighted and commenced devouring his prey. The boldness of the attack so astonished the farmer that he looked on with blank amazement. Recovering from his surprise, he hastened into the house and brought out his gun, which secured him both the hawk and the fowl. Another instance of still greater daring occurred near East Windsor Hill, Con- nectcut. A goshawk flew after a fowl near a dwelling house; the door being open, the hen flew inside; the hawk followed, and seized her in the room occupied by an old gentleman and his daughter. The old man hastened to the rescue, and struck the hawk with a cane before it re- leased its grasp. The daughter caught the hawk as it attempted to fly out of the door, and killed it.” (Amer. Nat., vol. x, 1876, p. 134). Capt. Charles E. Bendire informed the writer that at Fort Klamath, Oregon, he once shot at a Goshawk and slightly wounded it with fine shot, and in the course of a few minutes it returned and attacked a chicken. Numerous cases are on record where it has flown through windows to attack canaries or other cage birds. In the general character of its flight, as well as the mode of hunting and capturing its prey, it closely resembles Cooper’s Hawk, though it frequents the thick woods rather more than the latter bird. In the fall this Hawk is common along the smaller water courses where it is very destructive to wild ducks and other water fowl, and is able to strike down a bird as large as a full-grown mallard. If its prey is a bird of this size it rarely eats more than the flesh from the breast, leaving the rest of the carcass untouched. Scorning to feed upon carrion, another victim is secured when hunger returns. Of the upland game birds the ptarmigan in the North and the ruffed grouse in the middle districts suffer severely from the attacks of this powerful Hawk. Dr. William H. Dall, who found it common in the valley of the Yukon River, states that it feeds largely on the white ptarmigan, the flocks of which it follows from place to place. E. W. Nelson and GOSHAWK, 45 L. M. Turner both corroborate its destructiveness among these birds. In some parts of the country the Goshawk hunts the ruffed grouse so persistently that it is known by the name of ‘Partridge Hawk,’ and this bird probably has no worse enemy except man. As Audubon was passing down the Ohio he observed one of these Hawks dive into a flock of grackles which was crossing the river, and kill four or five of them. After giving each victim a fatal squeeze the Hawk allowed it to fall to the water and at the close of the chase returned and picked up all from the surface. Its rapid flight and the rapidity with which it makes a sudden turn enable it to capture squirrels without trouble, rabbits and mice being also taken. A very curious performance which was enacted by this bird, with a night heron as a second party, was witnessed by Mr. H. W. Henshaw, and is as follows: ‘One that I shot on the Williamson’s River was in hot chase of a kingfisher, which he doubtless would have seized in an- other moment. Another, on the same river, was noticed chasing a night heron. The attack was persistently kept up, but evidently with no in- tention on the part of the hawk of making the heron his prey. Forcing the heavy-winged heron into the open this hawk would close in and ap- parently give the ungainly bird a buffet with his wing, which each time produced a loud and discontented squawk. It occurred to me, as a possible solution of the motive of the hawk, that he intended to force his victim to throw up any fish it might have secured, and so furnish him an easy dinner.” (Report of the Chief of Engineevs, U.S. A., 1879, p. 2292.) Little can be said in favor of this Hawk, as the destruction of a few injurious rodents is a very meager offset for the great number of game birds and the poultry it destroys. The following species of mammals and birds were positively identi- fied among the stomach contents: MAMMALS. BIRDS, Lepus sylvaticus. Bonasa umbellus. Sciurus richardson. Colinus virginianus. Sciurus hudsonicus. Zenaidura macroura. Sciurus carolinensis leucotis. The nest is a bulky structure, and, although considerably larger, re- sembles quite closely in appearance that of the crow, except that it lacks the compact and nicely arranged lining common to the nest of the latter species. Externally it is composed of tolerably large sticks loosely placed together, which surround a more compact inass of smaller twigs containing the cavity of the nest. The lining is usually nothing more than a small quantity of soft inner bark, weed stalks, or leaves. The nest is situated in a large tree, generally an evergreen, well up among the higher branches, and in the thickest part of the forest. 46 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. The eggs, which are from two to five in number, three being the rule, are deposited from the middle of April to the latter part of May, ac- cording to the latitude. DESCRIPTION. Bare portion of leg in front shorter than middle toe; wing more than 12 inches (305™™). Adult.—Above bluish slate color with blackish shaft streaks; top of head deep black; tail crossed by four dusky bands; below white, thickly barred with narrow zigzag lines of grey; feathers often streaked in middle with dusky. Immature.—Above, dusky greyish, feathers margined with buff; be- low, whitish or pale buff with narrow stripes of blackish. Length: 21 to 25 inches (533 to 634™™); extent, 42 to 46 inches (1067 to 1169"); wing, 12 to 14.25 inches (305 to 362™™); tail, 9.50 to 12.75 inches (241 to 324 ™™), Table showing the results of examinations of 28 stomachs of the Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus). ; Poultry Locality. Date. a Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. irds, Sandy Spring, Md...-- Dec. 27, 1887 Adirondack Mts., N.Y] Oct. 31,1882 Philadelphia, Pa...... Jan. 12,1886 Dixon and Cedar | Aug. — 1867 counties, Nebr. Few locusts. Tioga, Pa ......------- Feb. 17, 1886 Elmira, N. Y-- -| Apr. 12, 1886 Beetles. Bridgeport, Conn. -| Oct. 29, 1888 a Lockport, N. ¥ .....-. Feb. 5, 1889 }.. ee Suffolk County,| Feb. 2. 1889 |.. Grant County, N. Mex.| Sept. 4, 1886 |..do -..-.|...--- 2-22 e eee ce[eee eee eee eee eeeee 30 sphinx larva, 3 centipeds. Datig, IN. Sossewne yoo wes: Nov. — 1878 |...+..-.-- Empty. Saratoga a aah, N.Y.| Dec. — 1879].-.....--- oe Do. ‘Rensee aer County | Oct. 25,1884) Ruifed rouse. ard -| Dec. 29,1884 |..do..... Do Oct. 1885 |. Do. ahs 20, 1886 |. Huntington, ic. 22,1889 |. Do. San Francisco Moun- hee 20 1889 |. tain, Ariz. Elk River, Minn ...... Feb. 10,1890 | Chicken. Cat bse ill Mountains,| Dec. 2.1879]|.-........ Do. Cam fonts, Ariz Dec. 2, 1886 Do. ay aiehassiesniatcts -| Jan. 10, 1887 ‘West Poe N.Y Dec. 27, 1880 Do, Saw Tooth Mountains, Sept. 30, 1890 Do. Idaho. DO) csiteatesreseeisione: Sept. 28, 1890 Birch Creek, Idaho. ...] Sept. 8, 1890 Do. Salmon River Moun- Sept. 6, 1890 tains, Idaho. Morris Plains, N. J ...| Nov. 12, 1890 SumMary.—Of 28 stomachs examined, 9 contained poultry or game birds; 2, other birds; 10, mam mals; 3, insects; 1, centiped; and 8 were empty. HARRIS'S HAWK. 47 HARRIS’S HAWK. Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi. Harris’s Hawk is a southern species, occurring in most portions of middle America and extending northward regularly to Texas and Arizona. The typical form, of which our bird is a geographical race, inhabits South America from Chile and the Argentine Republic north- ward to the isthmus of Panama. Audubon’s type was secured in Louisi- ana, but the bird is rare in that State. The food of this Hawk consists largely of offal, the smaller reptiles and mammals, and occasionally birds. Mr. C. C. Nutting states that a specimen obtained in Costa Rica wag shot while in the act of carrying off a chicken. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. v, 1882, p. 404). The fol- lowing is what Mr. G. B. Sennett says of its food in Texas: “I found in the crops of those I obtained, mice, lizards, birds, and often the Mexican striped gopLer (Spermophilus mexicanus), proving them active hunters, instead of the sluggish birds they appeared the year before at Brownsville” (Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geog. Sur. Terr., vol. v, pp. 419- 420), This species, like other Hawks of the same class, does very little dam- age to poultry or beneficial birds. The nest is placed indifferently in bushes among the long leaves of the Spanish bayonet (yucca) or in trees to the height of 40 or 50 feet. The eggs, which are usually two or three in number, are deposited in the first or second week in April and the young make their appearance early in May. Both birds assist in incubating the eggs as well as in securing food for the young. The species is not shy, and may be approached without much diffi- culty. This fearlessness on the part of the bird most probably accounts for the statements that it is peculiarly sluggish, whereas it is no more so than the other buzzard hawks. DESCRIPTION. Space between eyes and base of upper part of bill nearly naked. Inner webs of the five outside wing feathers cut out. Prevailing color uniform dark sooty brown; shoulders, under wing feathers, and thighs rich chestnut; tail black, with base and broad band at tip white; feathers covering base of tail white. Length: 17.50 to 24 inches (445 to 610™™); extent 43 to 47 inches (1092 to 1194™™); wing 12.30 to 14.50 inches (312 to 368™™); tail 9.80 to 11 inches (248 to 280™™). 48 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. Table showing the results of examinations of 6 stomachs of Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus harrist). Poultry Locality. Date. on pene Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. irds Pheenix, Ariz .......- May 13,1889 |.....-.-. |.----------- eee Small mammal.. OY sien seerace ever ersemiass t 6s AAO y enrioserpsd Laceinseic sie rains [emcee Sahara SES Fort Yumasper- mophile. DDO) iavticicrate/sieicigicreisie s sinssllO! ccexaicesewuie ne seclsenceeseuden ceeede: Spermophile. ... DO ws secieeseieie gotser vow 2s comes |ascuieacirotcccacnumatckeaness Small mammal. - DO: s2scers sosensecy reuslO) o2 suena aemarcen deilleemanmisalnenieee es Rabbit hair... -. Cuterebra. Rio Verde, Ariz ....... May 18,1886 |.-..------|------- ee es eeee rele eee ee eeee ence ee Empty. Summary.—Of 6 stomachs examined, 5 contained mammals ; 1, insects; and 1 was empty. RED-TAILED HAWK. Buteo borealis. {Plate 7—Adult and immature.] The Red-tail, or ‘Hen Hawk,’ as it is commonly termed, is one of the best known of all our raptorial birds. Its Jarge size, wide distribution, and habit of frequenting open ground while hunting, cause it to be noticed by the most indifferent observer. The careful study of the food of this Hawk is of the greatest economic importance. The more so from the fact that like its congener the Red-shouldered Hawk, its inappropri- ate name ‘Hen Hawk’ stimulates an unceasing warfare against it. The farmers, who are chiefly benefited by it, are its most pronounced ene- mies, because of the erroneous belief that the Red-tailed Hawk isa per- sistent and destructive enemy of poultry. A species as powerful and numerous as this must exert a marked in- fluence for good or evil on agriculture, according as its food consists of beneficial or injurious forms of animal life. Abundant proof is at hand to show that this Hawk greatly prefers the smaller mammals, reptiles, and batrachians, taking little else when these are obtainable in sufficient numbers; but if hard pressed by hun- ger it will eat almost any form of animal life, such as poultry and other birds, insects, crawfish, and even offal or carrion. Mr. Vernon Bailey, writing from Marfa, Tex., in January, 1890, says: ‘The crops and stomachs of seven contained hair and flesh of goats. A large number of goats are kept near here, and the hawks feed on those that die.” It is to be remarked that young Hawks are less particular as to the character of their food, and they are more frequently found to be the depredators of the poultry yards. The reason for this seems to be a lack of skill in procuring a sufficient quantity of the more usual prey. During winter a number of these immature birds frequent the exten. sive crow roost in the Arlington National Cemetery, near the city of Washington, and subsist partially on the dead and sickly crows. On one occasion, while on the river marsh below the roost in company with Mr. W. F. Roberts, the writer saw one of these birds stoop at a crow No.3. Div, Ornithology No.3. Div. Ornithology hus ed ints No.3. Div. Ornithology RED-TAILED HAWK Buteo borealis (Gmel) Buteo bo Buteo bo eat tees Plate 7 RED-TAILED HAWK. 49 which had just been shot. During the descent the crow made consider- able commotion, which evidently attracted the Hawk, for with a swift- ness of flight that would have done credit to the Duck Hawk it struck the crow just as it reached the ground. In the warmer parts of the year, the Red-tail feeds quite extensively on snakes and frogs, and indi- viduals may be seen flying with snakes in their talons, or may be started from the marshes while watching for frogs. Audubon states that he has seen it pounce on soft-shelled tortoises, but in each case the latter appeared to be successful in escaping to the water. At certain times, like the other Buteos, this Hawk seems to relish a diet of insects, of which grasshoppers, crickets, and the larve and imagos of the larger beetles form a large proportion. Meadow mice seem to form the staple article of its food, although at times other species of mice, arboreal and ground squirrels, rabbits, or an occasional mole or shrew are found among the stomach contents. This Hawk and its allied species render valuable service in reducing the numbers of ground squirrels (Spermophilus and Tamias) and rabbits, so abundant and excessively injurious to crops in some parts of the west. In western Texas Mr. Lloyd states that the Red-tail “feeds on prairie dogs, cotton-tails, jack-rabbits, and occasionally brings a scaled quail to the young.” (Auk, vol. Iv, 1887, p. 188.) Mr. William Brewster, writing of the food of this Hawk, says: “At this season [winter] it feeds exclusively on mice and rats; in early spring on toads, frogs, snakes, and the like. I doubt if it ever attacks birds, for in about a dozen specimens examined at different seasons I have never been able to detect any of their remains, nor have I ever seen _ it pursue one. Occasionally a wounded quail or snipe will fall a prey, but such cases must be rare.” (Forest and Stream, vol. v1, 1876, p. 3.) Joseph H. Batty writes: “The red-tailed hawk is a powerful bird, and I once saw one strike a full-grown muskrat, which it tore to pieces and devoured the greater part. * * * Ihave taken portions of the bodies of young woodchucks and gray rabbits from the craws of hawks of this species; it is evident that they prey largely upon mammals as well as fowl.” (Forest and Stream, Iv, 1875, p. 374.) Mr. Calvin Rawson says: “In one nest of Red-tailed Hawks I have seen portions of nine red squirrels, and from another have counted out on the ground seven entire bodies. A game bird or chicken now and then, but red squirrels for everyday bill of fare.” (Ornithologist and Oologist, vol. v111, 1883, p. 17.) Of 173 stomachs of this Hawk examined by Dr. B. H. Warren, 131 contained the remains of mice; 6, rabbits; 3, red squirrels; 2, skunks; 18, small birds; 14, poultry; 3, insects; 3, snakes; and 4, offal or carrion. He says: “I have repeatedly found three and four mice in the viscera of one bird, oftentimes five, and in a few instances as many as seven of these destructive little rodents were obtained from the crop and stomach of one hawk.” (Birds of Pennsylvania, 1888, p. 86.) 7626—No. 3——4 50 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES, Of 562 stomachs examined by the author, 54 contained poultry or game birds; 51, other birds; 278, mice; 131, other mammals; 37, ba- trachians and reptiles; 47, insects; 8, crawfish; 13, offal; and 89 were empty. It has been demonstrated by careful stomach examination that poultry and game birds do not constitute more than 10 per cent of the food of this Hawk, and that all the other beneficial animals preyed upon, including snakes, will not increase this proportion to 15 percent. Thus the balance in favor of the Hawk is at least 85 per cent, made up largely of various species of injurious rodents—a fact that every thoughtful farmer should remember. It is not to be denied that a good deal of poultry is destroyed by this Hawk, but the damage done is usually among the less vigorous fowls in the late fall, and in view of the great number of injurious rodents as well as other noxious animals which this Hawk destroys it should seem equivalent to a misdemeanor to kill one, except in the act of carrying off poultry. The fact that there are robbers among Hawks is no sound argument for exterminating any and every one. The following species of mammals and birds were positively identi- fied among the stomach contents: MAMMALS. Sciurus aberti. Sciurus carolinensis. Sciurus c. leucotia. Sciurus arizonensis. Sciurus hudsonicus. Tamias striatus. Tamias quadrivittatus. Spermophilus lateralis. Spermophilus grammurus. Spermophilus franklint. Spermophilus tridecemlineatua, Reithrodontomys humilis. Mus decumanus. Mus musculus. Sitomys americanus. Sitomys sonoriensis. Neotoma mexicana. Arvicola riparius. Arvicola pinetorum. Synaptomys coopert. Sigmodon hispidus. Zapus hudsonius. Erethizon dorsatus. Lepus texianus. Lepus sylvaticus. Lepus 8. arizona. Lepus 3. nuttalli. Thomomys. Perodipus ordii. Mephitis mephitica. Sorex. Blarina brevicauda. Blarina b. carolinensis. Blarina exilipes. Scalops aquaticus. BIRDS. Dafila acuta. Rallus elegans. Colinus virginianus. Callipepla gambeli. Bonasa umbellus. Zenaidura macroura. Megascops asio. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Otocoris alpestris. Corvus americanus. Sturnella magna. Icterus spurius. Quiscalus quiscula. Poocetus gramineus. Ammodramus 8. passerinus, Spizella monticola. Junco hyemalis. Melospiza fasciata. Merula migratoria. Sialia sialis. Like many other Hawks, the Red-tail seems to delight in circling high among the clouds, where it is barely visible from the ground or even RED-TAILED HAWK. 51 may pass from sight in the clear space above. While thus soaring, as at other times, it utters its penetrating but not unpleasant note. On account of its usually sluggish flight it is unfitted to capture active prey, in mostcases descending on it from a perch and rarely darting after it while on the wing, as is the habit of the Falcons and members of the Goshawk group. When other individuals are near, or in captivity when persons are present, it has the habit of covering its food from sight by spreading its tail and dropping the wings, and while feeding it reaches well back under the canopy thus formed, making it difficult to deter- mine the character of the quarry. In the East, continued persecution has made the Red-tail wary and very difficult to approach except on horseback. In parts of the West, however, where these birds are unmolested, their disposition is quite different, and they are comparatively tame. Mr. H. W. Henshaw, speaking of them at Mount Graham, Arizona, in October, says: “Walking quietly along, there was no difficulty in approaching with- in a few yards of the tree where one chanced to perch. One individ- ual which I scared from its perch by throwing a stone took a few broad circles about me, as though wondering what it meant, and then quietly returned to his former stand.” (Explor. West of the 100th Merid., Wheeler, vol. v, 1875, p. 424.) Like other birds of prey, the Red-tail, when taken young, soon becomes reconciled to captivity and makes a gentle and interesting pet. Its fondness for water is shown by the avidity with which it both bathes and drinks in the cage, as well as when free. During migrations this Hawk often travels in large flocks and gen- erally at a great elevation. Immense numbers pass over certain sec- tions, which seems to be in the line of its flight. In the Hudson River valley, late in September a number of years ago, the writer observed a flock containing sixty-five individuals flying in a comparatively com- pact body, probably not more than a few feet from each other. Mr, William Perham, of Tyngsboro, Mass., captured about 300 of these birds during two weeks in April, 1878 (Maynard, Birds of Eastern North America, p. 310). In winter a few hardy individuals may occasionally be found north of latitude 42°, but the great majority pass south and spread over the country even into Florida. In suitable localities, where extensive meadows and stubble fields harbor myriads of mice, these Hawks congregate in considerable numbers, as shown by the fact that about 175 specimens have been sent to the Department of Agriculture by Messrs. Miller and Leizear from a single locality in Montgomery County, Md., during the past few winters. The mcrease of any animal is always followed by a relative increase of its natural enemies. This is clearly shown on the river front in the vicinity of Washington, D. C., where the recent improvements have re- deemed several hundred acres of ground from the tidal flats; and already in many places rank vegetation has grown up, affording shelter and sus- 52 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. tenance for hordes of mice. At present in winter and early spring it is not uncommon to see ten or fifteen Red-tailed Hawks in different parts of this flat attracted hither by the abundance of their natural food. Prior to the reclamation of the flats not more than a pair or two were to be seen in the same neighborhood during the winter. The Red-tailed Hawk proper inhabits eastern North America west to the Great Plains, north at least to latitude 60°, and south to eastern Mexico, and probably breeds throughout most of this range, though more commonly north of the parallel of 40°. In the West it is sepa- rated into the three following geographical races, so that as a species its range covers the whole United States: The Western Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis calurus) inhabits the country west of the Rocky Mountains, as well as portions of Mexico. Krider’s Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis kriderii) is found in the Great Plains from Minnesota to Texas, and extends east casually to Illinois. Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis harlant), which until re- cently was considered a good species, dwells in the lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf States, east to Georgia, and extends casually to Iowa, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Two other races occur in North America south of the Mexican frontier, one (Buteo borealis lucasanus) on the peninsula of Lower California, and the other (Buteo borealis costaricensis) in Central America, DESCRIPTION. Adult—Upper surface of tail deep rusty rufous with usually a black subterminal band; above blackish brown, variegated with gray ful- vous and whitish; below white with more or less buffy, belly streaked with dusky or brown. Immature——Tail bright gray without any shade of red, and crossed by six to ten regular dark bands. A pronounced blackish zone across the upper part of the belly. In Harlan’s Hawk the tail is mottled with rusty, white, gray, and dusky; the rest of the plumage may vary from that of the typical red tail to nearly black. The Western Red-tail varies from a light extreme much like the typi- cal Red-tail to a uniform dark, sooty brown; and the tail usually has more than one dark band. : Krider’s Hawk is light-colored with much white on upper parts and entirely white or pale buff on lower parts. Length: 19 to 25 inches (482 to 635™™); extent, 49 to 58 inches (1245 to 1475™™); wing, 13.50 to 17.75 inches (342 to 451™); tail, 8.50 to 10.50 inches (216 to 267™), RED-TAILED HAWK. 53 Table showing the results of cxaminations of 562 stomachs of the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis). Poultry . Locality. Dato. 7 gna Otber birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. ids Taunton, Mass .......-| Nov. 18, 1885 |......---- Feathers v2 s.cs00|sscceccscsdavcesee Portland, Conn......-. Do Peterboro, N. ¥ .- Oneida Lake, N. Y Morrisville, N. Y..- Chester County, Pa Birmingham, Pa.. Portland, Conn Chickamau; a Tenn. Lockport, Forge, Suatoile County, N.Y, Whitewater, Wis....- Washington, D.C Middletown, Conn .... Portland, Conn Gainesville, Va Howard County, Md .. Washington, D. C Do Do Lewis County, N. Y.- qOrvang, Conn... Tro: Deviis 1 Lake, N. Dak... East Hartford, Conn .. -| Sept. 4, 1885 -| Aug. 28, 1886 -| Oct. 25, 1886 -| July 5, 1886 -| uly 25, 1886 -| Dec. 29, 1886 |. a Feb. 18, 1885 -| Mar. 2, 1887 Nov. 25, 1885 Aug. 30, 1886 |. Sept. 27, 1886 | . May 15, 1886 Mar. 10, 1886 Mar. 15, 1886 -| Feb. 13, 1886 |-. July 13, 1886 Feb. 16,1887 Aug. 17, 1887 |.....----- May 4,1887 Nov. 20, 1886 |. Jan. 2,1888 |. Noy. 3, 1887 |. Dec. 29, 1887 }.. J an. 20, 1888 Apr. 13, 1885 -| Aug. 3, 1876 -| Aug. 11, 1887 Sept. 14, 1885 8, 1887 Jan. -| Red squirrel .... Meadow mouse . .| 2 house mice.... .| Meadow mouse . s “Gray gopher, .| 3 meadow mice. . Meadow mouse - Pine mouse, meadow mouse. Mouse .......... Gray squirrel... House mouse, 3 meadow mice. 4 meadow mice, 2 white-footed mice, shrew. 2 shrews..-...-- striped gopher. Pine mouse, shrew. 2 meadow mice... Meadow mouse, w hite-footed mouse, shrew. 4 house mice, 1 meadow mouse. 3 house mice, 1 meadow mouse, shrew. 3 meadow mice, 3 shrews. l1house mouse, 2 pine mice, 2 meadow mice, 1 shrew. 1 pine mouse, 2 meadow mice. Meadow mouse - ---da --do .. --0.. -do “Meadow mouse - Pine mouse, meadow mouse. Shrew Meadow mouse, 2 house mice. 1meadow mouse, 2 adders, ribbon snake, toad. Grasshoppers. Grubs. Empty. Of.” ‘{ioad, 2 beetles. 18 grasshoppers, 5 crickets, 1 beetle, 1 craw- fish. Large adder. 5 grasshoppers. Empty. Garter snake. Empty. Frogs, 10 large grasshoppers. 2 frogs, potato beetle, Empty. Do. Larva. Do 1house mouse. 54 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. Table showing the results of examinations of 562 stomachs of the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis)—Continued. Locality. Poultry Date. Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. -| Dee. 26, 1887 -| Feb. 11, 1887 --| Dec. 11, 1886 Mar. 2, 1887 Mar. 12, 1887 Mar. 18, 1887 Mar. 24, 1887 sty 1, 1887 Apr. 25, 1887 Apr. 28, 1887 Nov. 14, 1887 -do ‘Nov. 27, 1887 a 12, 1887 Dec. 24.1887 adres 0 sqisitieise losin: sees Dec, 29, 1886 Feb. 16,1887 Dec. 11, 1886 Jan., 1887 Dec., 1886 -| Son, -| Feathers. “Bluebird Tree sparrow... sparrow -| 2 meadow mice . Do .....ccenenceoae 200 dO occeeee Song sparrow... -| Meadow mouse - -| 3 meadow mice - .| House mouse .. - -| House mouse .. - : Gray squirrel... -|. House mouse --. 2 meadow me gray squirrel Meadow mouse . Shrew 5 meadow mice . Meadow monse . " iidadon mouse, white-footed mouse, mole. Rabbit low mice, rabbit. Meadow mouse - O} cieisraimiesararevers Gray squirrel... Meadow mouse, chipmunk. Meadow mice... Meadow mouse, gray squirrel. 2 meadow mice - meadow mouse, 3 shrews. Meadow mouse - Meadow mouse . -| 3 meadow mice - 2 house mice. ... Meadow mouse . Meadow mouse . House mouse, meadow mouse. 2 meadow mice . Empty. Grasshopper. Empty. 2 wood frogs. Empty. Crawfish. Insect remains. Enpty. = Do. Do. Do. RED-TAILED HAWK. 55 Zable showing the results of examinations of 562 stomachs of the Red-lailed Hawk (Buteo borealis)—Continued. Feb., 1887 |. “Meadow mouse . 2 meadow mice, white-footed monse. -| Meadow mouse . -do 6 meadow mice. Meadow mouse, | shrew. Poultry Locality. Date. or came Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. irds, Chester County, Pa... see ; .| Song sparrow... ae mouse..... Do # |e AOin gence bales Sysanupanais [Ieee arevarec ae SS eeiaiaeas ee Se ara 3 -| Feb. 16,1887 | Fowl . =|D00;;, 1886 a5210 aiss sl emainrsccrorstccaseisiceis Meadow mouse, 2 house mice. Dee. 11, 1886 7 house mice... . --| Dee, ee --| Empty. -| Apr. --| Mouse... -| Beetles. -| Dec. ‘| 4 meadow mice . -| Nov. wes icraers se cosines ade Empty. ane --| Meadow mouse . ----do --| 2 meadow mice . --.do. -| 8 meadow mice . -do -| 2 meadow mice . Dec. — 1886 1 meadow mouse ee Meadow mice, rabbit. 3 Ore cerctsiats .| 5 meadow mice . ‘Jan. 15, 1887 te Noy., 1886 is meadow mouse. 3 meadow mice - 2 meadow mice, mole. Meadow mouse, rabbit, shrew. Meadow mouse, red squirrel. 3 meadow mice - 3 meadow mice, red squirrel. -| 4 meadow mice - 1 meadow mouse -| 3 meadow mice - Red squirrel - ... .| Grasshopper. House mouse ... Meadow mouse, white-footed mouse. Meadow mouse . ‘ sta -| 6 meadow mice. . ‘Dec. “31, 1886 |. Mouse........-. -| Jan. 1,1887].. -| White-footed mouse, shrew. -| Jan. 38,1887 Meadow mouse . Do... -|Jan. 7,1887].. Mouse .......... J Jan., 1887].. --| Meadow mouse - 200 vices lee .| 2 meadow mice..| Frog. Hel ©. -aasconseus .| 2 meadow mice, shrew. DO: csaasmacsencescs|s ze ---| Lmeadow mouse. Do do -| Meadow mouse. . Do. do 2 Do 3300 seseees Do. Jan. 18, 1887 Do Jan. 17,1887 House mouse ..-. Do Jan. 99) 1887 5 meadow mice. . Do -| Nov., 1886 --| Mouse .......... Do. -| Dec., 1886 .| Red squirrel..-.. WO! s 32 cescesssineese Nov., 1886 Meadow mouse; red squirrel. Meadow mouse . .| Empty. 56 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. Table showing the results of examinations of 562 stomachs of the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis) —Continued. Willistown, Pa.-....... ‘West Bradford, Pa... ae Pa... Willistown, Pa........ Birmingham, Pa Delaware County, Pa.. Jan. 2,1880 .| Nov. 27, 1880 .| Mar. 27, 1880 .| Mar. 22, 1880 Mar. 20,1880 Feb. 23, 1880 ‘rein “6, 1880 |.. a[e 2-0 2. Red sq uirrel, mice. Mice Seuaisaimew aes ees ere OOwsececweecs Poultry Locality. Date. ea sume Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. irds Chester Coniity, Pa..5j Felis ISBT beassesaawsleewstenscaacsmere 3 meadow mice, 2 house mice. eidteteleibioncsaayeraidcasvodee Offal. Shrew ....---..- Meadow mouse . 2 meadow mice. . -| 7 meadow mice. . santas -| Grasshoppers. Do Williamstown, P; Westtown, Pa. Pocopson, Pa.. Willistown, Pa Jai ‘West Bradford, Pa....| Jan. 13, 1879 | Poultry.|.....--........--.|----- sai te PBs sscieieiacic, ae Jan. a TSF OH one 2i- OO acs.n | ie ceccorass os .ccvemyenvani| cise’ Ose cdecic sdvaie 'a. (et LO verre nreemalle Willistown, Pa. Jan. “2, 1879 if DOW rasta site sacs -|.---d0-....2. .| Insects. East Bradford. “| iar’ 24, 1879 Do. DO cieresorarste cienpslciecrers Dec. 25,1884 Chester County, Feb. 15, 1878 Hipming bat, Dec. 31,1884 | Poultry.|........2..0....c.[ocese- ese Willistown, Pa........ Jan. 6,1885 DO: esc nse eomynta ictal Fe oi Sascean le East Bradford, Pa..--.|---.do ......- : Chester County, Pa.. Van, H ARBL || cc.ccciciciajse| secmetececcnwiacwicc eeteste aes .| Grasshoppers. Willistown, Pa........! Feb. 15, 1878 |. DOs esc 5. -| Oct., 1876 |. East Bradford, Pa. Aug. 15, 1876 Bae Oisors is: comitatus aire Willistown, Pa. . .| Apr. 8,1877| Poultry.|........ DO: nim siansee veiteras BOO sisice am <5 ,(AO0 tome seer auesins tucaerllene adnan Lancaster County, Pa. “Apr. 2, 1878 West Bradford, Pa. ...| Nov. 25,1879 | Quail ...|....--.....-2.22--).------5- East Bradford, "Pa... Feb. 4, 1879 [ein ciascinre cial niece cin Caln, Pa, .| Feb. 22, 1879 |.......--.].----- Do ....- , a bea Westtown, Pa. Do.. East Brad: . is Westtown, P. Jan, 28, 1879 |. Do. PU Olaeskeere li cc ceeuat yuceet er Do ‘Jan. 20, 1879 |..--------]-------- Do..... eee ON eiccresasa|esaeeiacec asa islf aisialsisisionecs East Bradfor | Feb., 1879 |..-.--.-..|---0.0.00- DO pasviaiat ceive sieiled EMO i ieycraein| swecisoe vine Peseedeve Lancaster County, Pa. “Apr. 2, 1878 |scceeessnssiccmance East Bradford, Pa..... HOD; DSTO | secs se atelier 4 ‘Westtown, Pa..-....-. Jan. "98, UBGQ [aserecessasaicigll etc ara. srareve , Chester County, Pa . BOO! ata sare sratal| brshercstavsiongal Mace geciskeera yeesaleeacinsres .| Offal. Pocopson, Pa..- “| Feb. 9879 | icc ceemea| sewmexe sae Caln, Pa...-... .| Feb. 9, RSTO | kes eursis cr cleermeeti. ‘West Goshen, Pa Feb. 7 ASTD |seseses ces dle ee Weattown, Pa. Jan. 29,1879 |.-.-...--.|..- ee ee eee +220 2.220022 05- Maryland -............ Feb; 1879 late ccscsieleceeseueme ceased s Red squirrel, mice. East Bradford, Pa..... Feb. 8, 1879 |-0esiescespecasescssecscrses Mice <2 s0ccccs se Willistown, Pa........ Jan. 21,1879 ‘West Whiteland, Pa..|Mar., 1879]... Willistown, Pa........ Jan, 13,1879 Chester County. Pa...| Jan. 3,1879| Poultry.|...--..... West Bradford, Pa....|Jan. 3,1880]....do -..|............ d : Willistown, Pa.. "| Nov. 27; 1874 Red squirrel. sea East Bradford, Pa -| Dec., 1882 Red squirrel, mice. Willistown, Pa. .|Jan., 1882]. Rabbit. Westtown, Pa.. .| Jan. 5,1881 .| Grasshoppers and crickets. Insects. Table showing the RED-TAILED HAWK. 57 resulis of examinations of 562 stomachs of the Red-tailed Hawk (Butco borealis)—Continued. Poultry Locality. Date. 7 pune Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. irds Delaware County, Pa..| Feb. 23, 1880 Do -| Jan. 80, 1880 }.. ‘Westtown, Pa.. -| Dec. 5,1679 chee County, | Be 3, 1879 Nov. 26, 1879 -| Sept. 15 = Tie, 10, 1877 Oct. 38,1880 -| Feb. 1876 |. -| Jan, 20, 1876 Jan. 1876 -| Dec. 19, 1878 --| Jan. 18, 1875 .| Nov.20, 1876 Do.... .--| Mar.26, 1876 Chester County, Pa. ...| Sept. —, 1874 West Goshen, -| Dec. —, 1875 |.. East Goshen, Pa.......| Feb. 19, 1876 -| Empty. Dakota City, Nebr -| July, 1870 37 insects. Elmira, N. ¥ .... -| June 1, 1886 De J une 19, 1886 : July 21, 1886 Grasshopper, beetles, DO scosseers ect Oct. 2, 1886 Wellsburg, N. Y.. -| Apr. 7, 1887 --| Beetles. Halsey Valley, N. Vien Aug. 10, 1887 2 ;| ‘Grasaboppers. Sandy Spring, Md.....| Mar. 6,1888 |.......... Tree sparrow... DVO) zsetateustecs sre icrosorn' Sa UROnias cetiad|embeees a6 2 tree sparrows, 1 song spar- row. ae Wy BOBS: | aiaisisisa.cs.sisaeciee vee ncacie mada [oe aeesineensseeeces Empty. [se 280 coed erica bineniscis sir aaeesiad meses Os acdioancinsineemieeunts Do. aS ome Song sparrow, | Meadow mouse, 3 junco. rabbit. Do -| Mar. 9,1888 Do 18: Do, Do Do Do Do -|..-d0 Do. -| Mar. 19, 1888 Gainesville, F -| Jan. 4, 1888 “2 cotton rats. - Sandy Spring, M Mar.24, 1888 1 pine mouse, 1 meadow mouse.| Chester County, Pa....| Feb. —, 1887 |.......---|----- 0-220 eee ee eee 2 meadow mice... Do ...- --| Jan. —, 1887 Bate 0 ssnta,c)apeiarmsayess Do. s Apr.—, 1887 3 meadow mice. . Do.. -| Feb. —, 1887 ‘Meadow mice. Do.. = aoe = DO.-scessew snes Portland, Conn - Hees Hartford, Conn - Dias Sakineenememiaiece Lockport, N. Y......-. Kast Hartford, Conn... The Plains, Va... Sandy Spring, Md..... Cobham, Va Sandy Spring, Md. 10. - -| Oct. -| Dec. -| Dee. -| Dec. Aine. 28, 1888 Mar. 30, 1888 Apr. 18, 1888 8) 1887 -| Are. 6, 1888 Apr. 20,1888 Juge 11, 1888 ‘| Sept. 5, 1888 Oct. 2, 1828 Nov. 11, 1888 |- -| Nov. 12, 1888 Nov. Dec. Dec. 138, 1888 4, 1888 1, 1888 19; 1888 18, 1888 -do Dee. 24, 1888 9, 1888 |. grouse. Red headed woodpecker. y Mouse 2 meadow mice . Shrew; meadow mouse, Pine mouse, gray| squirrel. 1 house mouse,1 meadow mouse :| Toad, crawfish. .| May beetle, oth- . er insects. Empty. “| Garter snake. .| Empty. Insect. 2 cuterebrae and other insect. ffal, Snake; hopper. Empty. grass. ny Do, Do. Offal, 58 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. Table showing the results of examinations of 562 stomachs of the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis)—Continued. Poultry Locality. Date. mi ae Other birds. Mammals. Miscellaneous. rds, Say Spring, Md..... Dee. 24,1888) | vais asic aicincie-era wo syeiarsia aie ar 1 meadow mouse ee ne Jan. 9,1889|..--...---] eee ee eee eee ee leone en eee eseeee--| Indeterminate matter. DO veces sie seen DAT? U9; VB89 | oc cine cnincellsaeeaicislaoscinwisineiee: Monge hair ..-.. Dota seicarerneteiscrenaicis 500) ora aseiere:|