142 RED-SHOULDER KD HAWK 



Red-tailed Hawk: B\itco borcalis. 



Length about 2 feet. 



Upper parts very dark brown marked with reddish-brown 

 and whitish; tail in adults rusty red with black band near 

 the end, and white tip. 



Under parts white tinged witli Iniffy, belly streaked with 

 brown. 



Common in winter, rare in summer. 



The Red-tailed is the Hawk most frequently seen 

 in winter circling high over open ground. He eats 

 mice, rats and other small mammals. Dr. Fisher 

 says that on the new land of the Potomac flats a rank 

 vegetation has grown up which gives shelter and sus- 

 tenance to hordes of mice, and " in winter and early 

 spring it is not unconnnon to see ten or fifteen Red- 

 tailed Hawks in different parts of this flat attracted 

 liither 1)y the abundance of their natural food." In 

 migration he has seen a flock of sixty-five Red-tails 

 passing southward in large sweeping circles. He also 

 savs that when taken yotmg this Hawk soon becomes 

 reconciled to captivity and makes a gentle and inter- 

 esting pet. The nest is generally in a high tree from 

 forty to seventy feet up. The eggs, 2 to 4, are dull 

 white lightly marked with brown. 



Red-shouldered Hawk: Btifco liiicafiis. 



Length about 18 inches. 



Upper parts dark brown with a reddish cast; slinulders 

 rusty red; tail black, with white bars and a white tip. 

 Under parts reddish-brown barred with white. 

 Resident (common) all the year. 



The Red-shouldered Hawk receives only praise from 

 those who know its habits. Sixty-five per cent of 

 its food is mice, and the rest various small mannnals. 

 frogs, fish and iiisects. Dr. Fisher sa_\s that in all 



