748 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



would settle absolutely these points and while the question is open Ave 

 must relegate the species to the hypothetical list. 



In general habits the Western Red-tail does not differ noticeably from 

 its eastern relative, but in the more or less treeless regions of the west the 

 nest is sometimes built in smaller trees and much nearer the ground than 

 is usual in the east, occasionally even on a cactus or the shelf of a cliff. 



Harlan's Hawk. Buteo borealis harlani (Aud.). (337(1) 



Synonyms: Harlan's Hen Hawk, Black Hawk, Black Warrior. 



Similar to the Western Red-tail, and often equally black; in fact some 

 specimens show little other color, although commonly the tail of the adult 

 is mottled and barred with black, gray, and rusty. 



Distribution. — Gulf States and lower Mississippi Valley, north casually 

 to Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Kansas; south to Central America. 



We have no record of this hawk for Michigan unless the specimen seen 

 by Dr. Velie at Petoskey, and described under the last number, should 

 be one. There are several records, however, for Indiana and Illinois and 

 it is possible that wanderers may sometimes reach southern Michigan. 

 As noted by Mr. Amos Butler in his Birds of Indiana this is the bird for 

 which in all probability the well known Indian chief "Black Hawk" was 

 named. 



Gyrfalcon. Falco rusticolus gyrfalco Liim. (354a) 



Synonyms: Gerfalcon, Brown Gyrfalcon, Jerfalcon. 



The peculiar notched bill characterizes the falcons, and the large species 

 (Peregrine and Gyrfalcon) have only the first primary emarginate on the 

 inner web. The wing of the male Gyrfalcon measures about 14 inches, 

 that of the female 15 to 16 inches. 



Distribution. — Northern Europe, Greenland and Arctic America, from 

 northern Labrador and Hudson Bay to Alaska; rarely south in winter to 

 New England. 



At least four subspecies of gyrfalcon are found occasionally (usually in 

 winter) along the northern border of the United States, but they are so 

 seldom taken, and the distinctions between them are so slight, that the 

 notes on Michigan occurrences are inextricably confused. We do not 

 know of a single Michigan specimen in any collection. Under the name 

 ''Greenland Gyrfalcon, Falco sacer candicans" Stockwell says "A single 

 specimen taken in Michigan, on the authority of the late Dr. G. B. Wilson" 

 (Forest and Stream, VIII, 224). 



Kneeland wrote: "I have heard of a white falcon of large size (measur- 

 ing about five feet in the spread of his wings) wdiich was shot on the'^point; 

 this, I think, must have been the gyrfalcon" (Birds of Keweenaw" Point, 

 Lake Superior, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. VI, 1857, p. 232.) 



All the Gyrfalcons are birds of the far north, most of them nesting within 

 the Arctic Circle and feeding on ptarmigan, waterfowl, and hares, and 

 only appearing wdthin the limits of the United States in winter. 



Richardson's Hawk. Falco columbarius richardsoni Ridgw. (357b) 



Synonyms: Richardson's Merlin, Richardson's Falcon. 



Known by its general resemblance to the Pigeon Hawk, and like that 

 species having the two outer primaries emarginate on their inner webs; 



