ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS 187 



soaring flight. As they wheel in circles high overhead, often 

 uttering a scream which is audible when the bird is practically 

 beyond the limit of vision, they are very conspicuous, 

 and the farmer blames them for the ravaging of the 

 poultry yard which is usually done by the silent and low- 

 flying Accipiter. 



Of our three species the Red-tail is the largest, soars 

 with the minimum flapping of wings, and in the widest 

 circles. It should not, however, be identified by these points 

 alone. The adult has a red tail which is almost always visible 

 at the moment when the bird wheels. The immature fre- 

 quently resembles an immature Red-shouldered Hawk, and 

 can hardly be distinguished at times in life. Few birds 

 exhibit more variation in plumage. Practically black birds 

 occur. I have seen individuals with whitish heads and pri- 

 maries and otherwise splotched with whitish, and every stage 

 in between is known. Such extreme plumages are readily 

 recognizable, of course. A very common state has a distinct 

 dark band on the breast, an effect which no plumage of the 

 Red-shoulder produces. Very often there are a few dark 

 feathers on the under surface of the wing at the bend or 

 carpal joint, giving the appearance of a small dark patch. 

 The scream of the Red-tail is more sputtering, with more of a 

 squeal in it, than the clear note of the Red-shouldered Hawk. 



In our area the Red-tail is chiefly a common winter 

 resident, preferring river meadows and open marshes. It 

 breeds only in the hill country of northern New Jersey and 

 the wilder parts of Long Island. 



Long Island. Common permanent resident. 



ORIENT. Rare breeder on Gardiner's Island, but common 

 there in winter (Griscom); otherwise an uncommon transient 

 and winter resident, August 25 to April 26. 

 MASTIC. Fairly common resident. 

 LONG BEACH. One record, April 19, 1916 (E. P. Bicknell). 

 New York State. Not now definitely known to nest in our 

 section. 



