﻿444 PROCEEDmCS of the national museum vol.100 



1 ?, Caicara, July 24, 1948; gonads very small; bill black with underpart of 

 mandible gray, iris pale brown, spots over eye and at base of bill bright yellow, 

 cere and facial skin dull green, feet yellow. 



The first specimen is in gray barred plumage, the second in all 

 black plumage with broad white and dusky gray bands on the tail 

 and has a considerable amount of concealed white on the bases of 

 the feathers of the top of the head, nape, and upper back. The gray 

 bird shows signs of active molting in the remiges. 



This tame sluggish hawk was encountered exclusively in the low- 

 land seasonal forest at Caicara, where it was not uncommon. It was 

 recorded during April, July, September, and November. 



The gizzard of the July specimen was full of small snails, which 

 had been extracted from their shells before they were eaten. Pre- 

 sumably the hard barbed cap on the tongue assists the bird in this 

 task. 



Local name, ''gavilan," hawk. 



ICTINIA PLUMBEA (Gmelin) 



Falco plumbeus Gmelin, Systema naturae, vol. 1, pt. 1, 1788, p. 283 (Cayenne, 

 ex Latham). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 9, Caicara, March 24, 1948; gonads enlarged (large yolks); iris red, feet 

 orange, bill black; gizzard contained beetles. 



This kite was quite common over the lowland seasonal forest at 

 Caicara, often in flocks of up to 10 birds, occasionally in company 

 with the swallow-tailed kite, Elano'ides forficatus yetapa. It was very 

 rare at Cantaura, although it was often encountered in the vicinity of 

 the tiny stream just south of that station. It was recorded from 

 March through July and in September. 



A pair were seen at their nest at Caicara during the last week of 

 March, The nest, a rather large affair of sticks, was placed about 

 30 feet up in the crotch of a tall tree at the edge of the heavy woods. 



GAMPSONYX SWAINSONII LEONAE Chubb 



Gampsonyx swainsonii leonae Chubb, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 39, 1918, p. 22 

 (Le6n, western Nicaragua). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 9, Cantaura, Aug. 17, 1947; gonads slightly enlarged; cere dull blue-gray; 

 iris rich red, feet bright yellow, bill black; gizzard contained a tail of a small 

 lizard. 



This beautiful little hawk was relatively common in the deciduous 

 seasonal forest-edge habitat at Cantaura ; it was rather rare at Caicara 

 where this habitat was small in extent. It was recorded from Janu- 

 ary through September but was absent or rare during the rest of the 

 year, apparently owing to at least local withdrawal from the area. 



