224 LIFE UlSTOKIES OF NOKTU AMERICAN BIRDS. 



77. Buteo lineatus alleni Ridgway, 



FLORIDA RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. 



Buteo lineatus alleni Ridgway, Proceedings U. S. National Museum, vii, January 10, 



1884, 514. 

 (B — C — R — , C — , U 339a.) 



Geographical range: South Atlantic and Gulf coasts; south from middle South 

 Carolina (along the coast only?) to Florida; west to southeastern Texas. 



The Florida Red-shouldered Hawk is a smaller bird than the preceding 

 subspecies, and as far as yet known its breeding range is confined to Florida 

 and the extreme southern borders of the Gulf coast States, Avest to southern 

 and (occasionally) central Texas. 



Among an interesting collection of birds, nuide recently by Mr. J. E. 

 Benedict, along the South Atlantic coast in the vicinity of Charleston, South 

 Carolina, is a typical specimen of this form, shot near Greorgetown, on Winyali 

 Bay, South Carolina, in about latitude 33° 25', on January 4, 1891, extending 

 its range considerably to the northward, and proljably the breeding range also. 



I am indebted to Dr. William L. Rnlph for the following iu)tes on this sub- 

 species: "Before the commencement of the disgraceful business of plume hunt- 

 ing which bids fair to exterminate many of the Florida birds, the little Sparrow 

 Hawk was the conuuonest bird of prey in that State, but since then its num- 

 bers have been growing rapidly less, and now this position is held by the sub- 

 ject of this article. 



"The following notes were taken in St. Jolms and Putnam Counties, where, 

 excepting tluit part of the former wliicli ))or(lers on tlie Atlantic Ocean, tlie 

 Florida Red-shouldered Hawk is very coiiiuion. In fact, I have seen very few 

 of these birds — and none during the breeding season — in the immediate vicinity 

 of either the east or west coast of this Slate. It is a resident species, and so far 

 as I can learn, if not molested, it seldom goes very far from tlie place where it 

 nests. There has been no apparent diminution in their numbers during the last 

 fifteen years, as they are seldom disturbed except in the vicinity of the main 

 routes of travel, where they are more or less shot at Ijy tourists, who, by the 

 way, seem to be their oidy enemies. However, they will probably before many 

 years have to succmub to the fate that is fast overtaking nearly all Florida 

 birds. 



"The localities where they are most commonly found are the flat pine 

 woods, and during the breeding season tliey frequent these most of the time, 

 nesting in or near the small cypress swamjis which are very numerous in 

 these forests, l)uiiding nearly always in pine and rarely in cypress ti-ees. 

 At other seasons they wander more, and are often seen iu the vicinity of 

 houses, but rarely far from their nesting places. During the time they are 

 sitting, these birds move around but little, when not in search of food, and 

 those not on their uests will usually be found perched sleepily on a branch 



