NORTHERN RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 181 



winter. In the northern portions of its breeding range it is mainly 

 migratory, though it is usually listed as a permanent resident. 

 C. J. Pennock tells me that a specimen taken as late as February 14: 

 in Charlotte County, Fla., was referred to this form. Dr. Winsor 

 M. Tyler's notes give the average date of arrival in Lexington, 

 Mass., over a period of 20 years as March 16, the earliest being- 

 March 3 and the latest March 30. My dates are somewhat earlier, 

 as I have found them working on their nests, in Bristol County, as 

 early as March 5. Dr. Tyler has sent me the following notes on a 

 migratory movement he observed on March 22, 1911, at Lexington : 



This morning we saw three or four red-shouldered hawks circling at no great 

 height. We soon lost sight of them off toward the north. Later, about noon, 

 a single bird flew in great circles overhead, making good progress, although 

 intermittently, in a northerly direction. A few minutes later another bird 

 flew over in a similar manner, screaming as he passed along. Then we saw 

 three others — two a little behind the first, and one very high above him — all 

 four circling on outspread wings — the tail wide-open like a fan. The birds 

 cut great circles in the air, or rather, as they passed northward, they described 

 immense loops, and each circuit carried them farther away toward the north. 

 Sometimes one would lead, or would appear from the ground to do so, then 

 as he swung southward he would appear larger again until he turned first 

 eastward and then northward. Then as he moved away, we lost him in the 

 distance. 



As we watched the four birds circling together a fifth joined them. His 

 wings were bent back at the shoulder, and his tail was shut and he sailed in 

 this position, slanting downward, I think, moving rapidly toward the others. 

 Upon overtaking them he spread his wings and tail to their utmost extent and 

 continued with the other birds in their great slow circles. The fifth bird shot 

 out from just under the sun and holding a straight course, passed over our 

 heads. On this day and at this hour (noon) the sun is directly south; hence 

 the route of the six birds was astronomically due north. 



Courtship. — One of the delights of early spring, on one of the 

 first balmy days of March, when the genial warmth of the advancing 

 sun is thawing out the hibernating butterflies, the early wild flowers 

 are showing signs of new life, and the first hylas are peeping in the 

 marshy pools, is to walk through the now leafless woods, breathe 

 the fresh fragrance of awakening spring, watch for the early migrat- 

 ing birds, and listen for the courtship cries of our favorite hawks, 

 old friends of many years' standing. The blue jays can closely imi- 

 tate their cries, but there is a difference we can recognize. And soon 

 we see them soaring in the air in great circles high above the same 

 old woods where they have nested for many years. We believe that 

 they are mated for life, and we like to think that this is the same 

 old pair that we have known so long. But probably it is only the 

 continuation of a pair, for if one of a pair is killed, the survivor 

 promptly brings a new mate into the territory, or feudal domain 

 of the pair. These hawks are very noisy and conspicuous at this 

 season, in marked contrast with their behavior at other seasons. 



