202 



FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



the basal half with more or less rufous, the inner webs of the feathers with 

 sometimes white bars ; under parts white or whitish, streaked or spotted with 

 black or blackish, the legs sometimes barred with rufous. 6 L., 18'30; W., 

 12-50; T., 8-00; B. from N., -75. $ L., 20-35; W., 13-50; T., 9-00. 



Fig. 69.— Four-notched primaries of Red-shouldered Hawk. (Reduced.) 



Remarhs. — Adults of this species may always be known by the rich rufous 

 lesser wing-covei*ts. Immature birds are sometimes confused with the young 

 of the Eed-tailed or Broad-winged Hawks. From the former they may be 

 distinguished by their small size, rufous margins of the lesser wing-^overts 

 ochraceous-bufi' markings on the primaries, and the continuously streaked 

 under parts ; from the latter they differ in having four instead of three outer 

 primaries " notched," in being larger, and in having ochraceous-butf on the 

 primaries. 



Range. — Eastern North America, north to Nova Scotia and Manitoba ; resi- 

 dent nearly throughout its range. 



Washington, common P. R. Sing Sing, common P. E. Cambridge, com- 

 mon P. R., less common in winter. 



iVes^, in trees, thirty to sixty feet from the ground. Eggs., three to six, 

 dull white, generally more or less sprinkled, spotted, or blotched with cinna- 

 mon-brown or chocolate, 2-15 x 1-65. 



The present species and the Red-tailed Hawk are the birds to which 

 the names Chicken Hawk and Hen Hawk are most frequently misap- 

 plied. Being both common species whose habits render them easily 

 observed, they are often unjustly made to suffer for the sins of their 

 bird-killing relatives of the genus Accipiter. 



The farmer sees a Hawk sailing in wide circles above him, uttering 

 its fierce, screaming cry of Tcee-you, kee-you. While he is watching it 

 a sly, low-flying Accipiter slips by him and makes a sudden dash into 

 the poultry yard. The farmer does not discriminate ; a Hawk is a 

 Hawk, and, shalyng his fist at the bird in the air, he vows vengeance 

 at the first opportunity. 



The Red-shouldered Hawk is at most times of the year a bird of 

 the woods. Particularly does it like low woods watered with small 

 streams from which it can obtain its favorite food of frogs. Its note 

 is one of the common sounds of summer, and can be heard when the 

 bird is almost lost to sight far up in the sky. It is frequently imi- 

 tated by the Blue Jay. 



