i88 Bird -Lore 



enable the birds of each species to recognize their friends, just as soldiers 

 are uniformed so that each may know his own party. But the uniform 

 also enables the enemy to distinguish him, so these recognition marks 

 enable us to distinguish the birds at an otherwise impossible distance. 



The directive marks of the common northern birds of prey are those 

 selected for illustration. The size, shape and general color of the birds, 

 as well as the spots, all enter into the plan. Those shown are adults; 

 the young in many cases are different, but have nevertheless a recognized 

 natural uniform which usually agrees in important features with that of 

 its parents. Thus the white rump-spot is a constant and distinctive 

 feature of the Harrier in any plumage. So is the white collar of the 

 Horned Owls. The mustaches of Peregrine and Broadwing, and the 

 wrist -spot, i. e., the dark splotch on the bend of the wing in the 

 Buteo's and in the tufted Owls, also the breast-band on Swainson's 

 Hawk and the body-band on the Rough -leg (see plate). 



Late one evening as I walked through a marsh a large hawk -like 

 bird rose before me. In the dim light I barely made out that it was a 

 bird of prey, but as it went off I saw the white spot on the rump and 

 that settled it beyond question as a Marsh Hawk or Harrier. 



On another occasion I saw a bird in a tree. Its size and upright 

 pose said 'Hawk.' On coming nearer its mustache marks said either 

 Peregrine or Broadwing. But when it flew, the pointed wing and swift 

 flight made certain that it was a Peregrine. Again a young Redtail 

 sailed over my head in an opening of the trees. I took it for a young 

 Goshawk, but before I tried to 'collect' him I saw the wrist-spot that 

 labeled him ' Buteo,' and so let him go. 



The usefulness of the color-spots is increased by another well-known 

 law, namely, that the peculiar feature of a species is its most variable 

 feature. Thus the greatly developed bill of the long-billed Curlew, the 

 beak-horn of the Pelican, the neck of the Swan, the collar of the Loon, 

 are much more variable than features that they have in common with 

 others of their group. 



So, also, these markings are never twice alike. They keep the same 

 general style but differ in detail with each individual, so that the birds 

 can recognize each other personally, just as we do our friends by 

 peculiarity of feature. 



Of course color-spots are not the only things to be considered ; pose, 

 flight, voice, locality, probabilities and tricks of attitude all come in to 

 help. 



A long reddish bird darted past me to alight in a tree that almost 

 concealed him. I thought it a Thrasher, but the deliberate pumping 

 of his tail (another recognition mark), taken with his size and color, 

 told me at once that it was a Sparrowhawk. 



