BIRDS OF NORTH DAKOTA 17 



100—325. Turkey Vulture. Carthartes auro. 



A straggler to the prairie region. Tolerably common around Devils Lake. 



101—331. Marsh Hawk. Circus hudsonius. 



Very common summer resident. One of our earliest spring migrants and 

 one of the most familiar of birds, as they are seen at all hours of the day 

 hovering over their feeding places. Arriving early in the spring and staying 

 late in the fall, they kill and devour great numbers of gophers, mice, and 

 now and then a small bird or young prairie chicken. Nest built in the shal- 

 low sloughs of prairies, three to five eggs. 



102 — 332. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipter velox. 



Rare. Two specimens secured in 1895. 



103 — 334. American Goshawk. Accipites atricapillus. 



Have seen head and feathers of two shot by George Dale in north end of 

 Towner county. 



104—337. Bed-tailed Hawk. Bute© borealis. 



Common migrant. Breeds in Turtle Mountains and timber around Gra- 

 ham's Island, Sweetwater and other lakes. Both the true borealis and its 

 sub-species Kriderii are found here, and probably types of both will be found 

 intermingling and breeding. Flocks of six to ten are seen during migrations 

 in spring. 



105 — 337a. Krider's Hawk. Buteo borealis kriderii. 



Remarks on borealis will apply to kriderii. 



106 — 342. Swainson's Hawk. Buteo swainsoni. 



An abundant summer resident, nesting wherever there are bushes large 

 enough to hold a nest. Also found nesting in tall trees in edges of Turtle 

 Mountains. Arriving usually early in April, nest building does not progress 

 very rapidly until well along in May. Sets of eggs have been found of from 

 one to four. In July there appear on the prairies a large number of these 

 hawks, evidently from one to two years old. They do not seem to be in flocks 

 at all, still there are so many of Ihem that it would appear as though they 

 had come from somewhere together. They are at this time either stupid or 

 very fearless, for they are easily approached and large numbers of them are 

 shot by hunters and left to rot where they fall. They evidently come here for 

 the feed, as there is a bountiful supply in the shape of gophers, mice, toads, 

 etc. In the early fall they disappear as mysteriously as they came, going 

 during the first few days in September, but very few being seen after 

 that. Many phases of melanistic plumage are seen at this time and some 

 approach very closely to a perfect melanism. I have not observed anything 

 approaching albinism in all the birds I have seen of this species. 



Writing in 1910 about this species one would say that they were a rare 

 bird and not found nesting at all, neither is there any evidence of a summer 

 flight of these birds. 



107 — 343. Broad-winged Hawk. Buteo latissimus. 



A fairly common straggler. No evidence of its breeding here has been 

 noticed. 



108 — 347a. American Rough-legged Hawk. Archibuteo lagopus saucti-Johannis. 



A very early spring and late fall migrant. Tolerably common. Do not 

 tarry any great length of time. First seen in spring the last days of March. 



109 — 348. Ferruginous Rough-leg Hawk. Archibuteo ferruginus. 



Very common summer resident, breeding in considerable numbers in the 

 hills in the northern part of the county. Choose retired and isolated hills on 

 which to place their nests. First seen early in April. Full sets of eggs are 

 found late in May. 



