RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. L05 



reptiles, batrachians, and insects. Indeed of 220 stomachs 

 which were examined of this so-called " Chicken." Hawk, 



only 3 contained remains of poultry ! Of the rest, 12 

 contained birds; 1<>2, mice; 4<>, other mammals; 20, 

 reptiles; 39, batrachians ; 92, insects; lti, spiders; 7, 

 crawfish; 1, earthworms; 2, offal; 3, fish; and 14 were 

 empty.* The usefulness of this Hawk is therefore obvi- 

 ous, and in killing it we can readily see that we not only 

 harm ourselves but render an important service to our 

 enemies. 



Fortunately, this valuable ally is one of our com- 

 monest Hawks, and is with us throughout the year. Its 

 loud scream, kee-you, kee-you, as it sails about, high in the 

 air, is a familiar summer sound. The " red " shoulder is in 

 reality a rich, reddish chestnut on the lesser wing-coverts, 

 and serves to identify the bird in both immature and 

 adult plumage. The Red-shoulder's nest, like that of 

 most of our Hawks, is constructed of sticks and twigs, 

 with a lining of cedar bark, moss, or some other soft 

 material, and is situated in a tree thirty to sixty feet 

 from the ground. Apparently the same pair of birds re- 

 turn to a locality year after year, sometimes using the 

 same nest, at others building a new one. The eggs are 

 about as large as those of a hen and in color are dull 

 white, more or less sprinkled, spotted, or blotched with 

 cinnamon-brown or chocolate. They are laid early in 

 April, most of the Hawks being early breeders. The 

 young are born covered with white down, but are help- 

 less, and are reared in the nest. 



The Red-tailed Hawk is also known as the Ben Hawk 

 or Chicken Hawk, but has almost as good a record as 



* See Fisher, The Hawks and Owls of the United States in their 

 Relation to Agriculture; Bulletin No. '■'>, Division "f Ornithology 

 and Mammalogy, United States Department of Agriculture, 1893. 

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