120 



partridges, and such ground game, which its long tail and short wings 

 allowed it to follow through rapid turnings and twistings, whereas its size 

 allowed it to kill quite large game. It was not, however, regarded as a 

 thoroughly sportmanlike bird as it lacked the spirit and energy of the long- 

 winged Falcons and its use lacked the excitement and interest of the "Noble 

 Hawks". 



Economic Status. Fortunately this bird is only an irregular winter 

 visitor into our least settled sections. Otherwise it would be a serious 

 menace to the poultryman. Of 20 stomachs examined, 9 contained poultry 

 or game; 2, other birds; 10, mammals; 3, insects; and 1, a centipede. Of 

 the 10 mammals, 3 were rabbits and 1 a grey squirrel, both of which can be 

 regarded as useful. This gives a total of 15 harmful food items against 9 

 useful and 1 neutral. There can be no question as to the harmful status of 

 this species. Its size gives it ample power to take pullets and even well- 

 grown hens, and such large game as Ruffed Grouse is its favourite food. 

 Though the real home of the Goshawks is in the more northern forests along 

 the edge of the cultivated sections, when they once establish themselves 

 near a farmyard they are likely to visit it daily. They dash suddenly over 

 or around a building into the middle of the poultry flock, seize their victim, 

 and are off with it before the owner can protect his property. 



Genera — Buteo axd Archibuteo. True Buzzards. 



General Description. Heavily built Hawks of metliimi vr large size, the bill without 

 notches or teeth (Figure 33 b, p. 23). The wings are rather short and round and the tail 

 long and ample, spreading out in a broad semicircle. Genus Buteo has clean tarsi, but 

 those of Archibuteo are feathered to the base of the toes. 



Field Marks. Roimd wings, and broad, ample tail make the best field marks of the 

 "Buzzards. 



These are the true Buzzards. The Turkey Vulture is called Buzzard 

 in the south, but incorrectly so. The Buzzards lack the dash, speed, and 

 spirit of either the Falcons or the Accipiters and confine themselves to 

 humbler game and slower, heavier methods of hunting. They are the 

 common high-flying Hawks of summer, can be seen circling for hours high 

 in the air, and are little given to dashing about the thickets like the agile 

 Accipiters. With the exception of the Broad-winged, their characteristic 

 habitat is the wide open, though they usually nest in the forest. 



Economic Status. On the whole their mousing and insectivorous 

 habits more than compensate for some undeniable damage done by indi- 

 viduals of a few species. Though the Buzzards include some of our largest 

 Hawks, the harm they do does not begin to compare with that done by the 

 smaller Accipiters. Indeed the very largest species of the group, the 

 Rough-legs, are the most harmless. Their principal food is mice, other 

 small mammals, reptiles, and insects and the size of many of these guarantee 

 that the good they do is on a large and important scale. 



337. Red-tailed Hawk, hen hawk. fr. — l.\ buse a queue rousse. Butee 

 borealis. L, 20. Plate XIII A. 



Distinctions. Our largest common Hawk; usually to be distinguished from all others 

 by size. The Rough-legged, which is its equal or superior in this respect, can be easily 

 distinguished by its feathered tarsus. Broad red tail is distinctive of the adult. Juveniles 

 vary only slightly from the Red-shouldered Hawk of equal age but are larger. Except for 



