[190] BIRDS OF OREGON 



material frequently results in a huge structure. Eggs have been found by 

 various collectors from April 2.1 to June 14. These include many records 

 by Jewett and Braly. 



This big squirrel hawk is one of the most beneficial species in the State 

 as it lives almost entirely on ground squirrels, mice, rabbits, and other 

 rodents. The hawks often congregate about a squirrel-infested meadow, 

 as many as 2.7 having been noted about a single small field (Gabrielson 

 IC/LZC). Despite convincing evidence published and republished over a 

 long period of time showing it to be preeminently a rodent destroyer, 

 Swainson's Hawk is still subjected to the persistent persecution of every 

 man and boy who carries a gun, the excuse being that it is a "chicken 

 hawk. ' ' Two birds killed in Wallowa County in 192.8 by George Rodgers, 

 the stomachs of which were examined by the Biological Survey, had eaten 

 only rodents and insects. One stomach contained two meadow mice 

 (JMdcfotus nanus canesceni) and one white-footed mouse (^Peromyscus mam- 

 culatus); and the second stomach, one young Columbian ground squirrel 

 (Citellus columbianus) and a number of stone flies (Plecoftera). 



American Rough-legged Hawk: 



Buteo lagopus sanctijohannis (Gmelin) 



DESCRIPTION. "Adults, normal phase: Under parts varying from whitish to yellowish 

 brown, more or less spotted with blackish, most heavily on breast; upper parts 

 grayish brown or dark brown, streaked with white and reddish brown; tail with base 

 and upper coverts white and end with subterminal dusky band; wing quills with outer 

 webs silvery gray. Young, normal plumage: similar to adults, but end of tail plain 

 grayish brown, the basal part plain whitish; under parts whitish or buffy, crossed 

 on belly by a broad belt of uniform dark brown. Melanistic phase in both young and 

 old connected with normal plumage by every variety of intermediate character 

 entirely deep black except for white forehead, white on inner webs of quills above 

 emargination, and narrow broken bands across base of tail. Male: length 19.50- 

 Z2..00, wing 15.75-16.80, tail 9-10. Female: length 2.1.50-2.3.50, wing 16.15-18.00, 

 tail 9-11." (Bailey) Nest: A bulky structure of sticks, lined with grass, leaves, or 

 feathers. Eggs: 2. to 5, greenish white, irregularly blotched with brown and 

 lavender. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from Aleutian Islands, Arctic Coast of Alaska, and 

 Arctic islands south to Labrador, Quebec, and northern Alberta. Winters from 

 southern Canada south to southern California, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and 

 North Carolina. In Oregon: Regular and at times abundant migrant and somewhat 

 less common winter resident of eastern Oregon that appears in October and remains 

 until April. Rare straggler in western Oregon. 



THE AMERICAN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK is easily distinguished in normal 

 plumage by the dark band across the belly. Like many other hawks, it 

 is exceedingly variable in plumage, and melanism of varying degrees is 

 quite common. Townsend (1839) first reported it from Oregon, and 

 Bendire (Brewer 1875) an< ^ Merrill (1888) both reported it as a common 

 winter resident. It has since been recorded by other observers from various 



