182 Mr Audubon on the Habits of the Turkey Buzzard. 



cannot bear cold weather well ; the few who, during the heat of 

 the summer, extend their excursions to the middle or northern 

 States, generally all return at the approach of winter ; and I be- 

 lieve also, that very few of these birds breed eastward of the 

 Pine Swamps of West Jersey. They are much attached to par- 

 ticular roosting trees, and I know will come to them every night 

 from a great distance : on alighting on these, each of them, 

 anxious for a choice of place, creates always a general disturb- 

 ance, and often, when quite dark, their hissing noise is heard in 

 token of this inclination for supremacy. These roosting trees 

 of the buzzards are generally in deep swamps, and mostly 

 high dead cypresses ; frequently, however, they roost with the 

 carrion-crows (Vultur atratus), and then it is on the largest 

 dead timber of our fields, not unfrequently close to the houses. 

 Sometimes also this bird will roost close to the body of a thick- 

 leaved tree ; in such position I have killed several, when hunt- 

 ing wild turkeys by moonlight nights, and mistaking them for 

 these latter birds. 



In Mississippi, Louisiania, Georgia and Carolina, they pre- 

 pare to breed early in the month of February, in common with 

 almost all the genus Falco. The most remarkable habit at- 

 tached to their life is now to be seen ; they assemble in parties of 

 eight or ten, sometimes more, on large fallen logs, males and 

 females exhibiting the strongest desire to please mutually, and 

 forming attachments by the choice of a mate by each male, that, 

 after many caresses, leads her off on the wing from the group, 

 neither to mix or associate with any more, until their offspring 

 are well able to follow them in the air; after that, and until in- 

 cubation takes place (about two weeks), they are seen sailing 

 side by side the whole day. 



These birds form no nest, yet are very choice respecting the 

 place of deposit for their two eggs. Deep in the swamps, but 

 always above the line of overflowing water mark, a large hol- 

 lowed tree is sought, either standing or fallen, and the eggs are 

 dropped on the mouldy particles inside. Sometimes immediate- 

 ly near the entrance : at other times as much as twenty feet in. 

 Both birds incubate alternately ; and both feed each other whilst 

 sitting, by disgorging the contents of the stomach, or part of 

 them, immediately close before the bird that is sitting. Thirty- 



