BIRDS OF PREY 



KITES, HAWKS AND EAGLES. Family BUTEONID^ 



The members of this family are chiefly diurnal; they get their living by 

 preying upon smaller animals or birds. They have strong sharply hooked 

 bills, powerful legs and feet armed with strong, curved and sharply pointed 

 talons. 



327. Swallow-tailed Kite. 

 Elanoides forpcatus. 



Range. — Southern United States; casually 

 north to New York and Manitoba. 



Swallow-tailed Kite 



White 



This most beautiful Kite can never be mis- 

 taken for any other; its whole head, neck and 

 underparts are snowy white, while the back, wings and tail are glossy blue 

 black, the wings being very long and the tail long and deeply forked. The ex- 

 treme length of the bird is 24 inches. As a rule nests of this bird are placed 

 high up in the tallest trees; they are made of sticks, weeds and moss. Two 

 eggs, or rarely three, constitute a full set. They are white or bluish white, 

 spotted with brown. The one figured is an unusually handsome marked speci- 

 men in the collection of Mr. C. W. Crandall. Average size of eggs, l.SO x 1.50. 

 Data. — Yegna Creek bottoms, Texas, April 27, 1891. Tv/o eggs. Nest of sticks 

 and green moss, the same moss also being used fo." linins; in an elm tree 80 

 feet up. 



328. White-tailed Kite. Elanus leucurus. 



Range. — Southern United States, north to the Carolinas, Illinois and middle 

 California. 



This species can be recognized by its light 

 bluish gray mantle, black shoulders and white 

 tail. It is a very active species, feeding upon 

 insects and reptiles, and small birds and mam- 

 mals. The nests of these species are placed 

 in trees at quite an elevation from the ground, 

 being made of sticks, weeds and leaves. The 

 eggs are creamy white, profusely blotched and 

 spotted with reddish brown and umber. Size 

 1.65 X 1.25. Data. — Los Angeles, Cal., April 0. 

 1896. Nest in fork of willows about 25 feet up. 

 Made of willow twigs and weed stalks, lined 

 with pieces of bark, 



201 



Creamy white 



