2i8 Birds Every Child Should Know 



RED-TAILED HAWK 



Called also: Hen Hawk; Chicken Hawk; Red 



Hawk 



This larger relative of the red-shouldered 

 hawk (the female red-tail measures nearly two 

 feet in length) shares with it the hatred of all 

 but the most enlightened farmers. Before con- 

 demning either of these useful allies, everyone 

 should read the report of Dr. Fisher, published 

 by the Government, and to be had for the ask- 

 ing. This expert judge tells of a pair of red- 

 tailed hawks that reared their young for 

 two successive seasons in a birch tree in some 

 swampy woods, about fifty rods from a poultry 

 farm, where they might have helped themselves 

 to eight hundred chickens and half as many 

 ducks ; yet they were never known to touch one. 

 Occasionally, in winter especially, when other 

 food is scarce, a red-tail will steal a chicken — 

 probably a maimed or sickly one that cannot 

 get out of the way — or drop on a bob-white; 

 but ninety per cent, of its food consists of 

 injurious mammals and insects. 



Both of these slandered "hen hawks" prefer 

 to live in low, wet, wooded places with open 

 meadows for hunting grounds near by. 



