KITES, HAWKS, AND EAGLES: Family Accipitriidae [ 193 ] 



SUCKLEY (1860) reported the Ferruginous Rough-leg from Fort Dalles in 

 December 1854. Bendire (1877) reported it from Camp Harney as rare. 

 Woodcock (1902.) listed these two records but gave no additional infor- 

 mation, though curiously enough he took a specimen ten miles south of 

 Corvallis, November zx, 1902., just a few months after publishing his list. 

 This specimen and a single bird by Jewett seen near Independence, January 

 15, 1919, are the only two records for western Oregon. There are no 

 other published references to it as an Oregon species prior to our own. 

 We have found it to be a regular resident of eastern Oregon, most com- 

 mon along the Columbia. We have summer records for Jefferson, Des- 

 chutes, Malheur, and Wallowa Counties, and the species would probably 

 be found in Grant, Wheeler, Union, and Baker Counties, if sufficient field 

 work could be carried out. It is the largest and most striking Buteo 

 known in the State and can be distinguished by the white tail and very 

 light under parts, which stand in decided contrast to the reddish legs and 

 lower belly. It flies more than the American Rough-legged Hawk and 

 resembles the Western Red-tailed Hawk in its flight and hunting habits. 



In northern Morrow and Umatilla Counties, by year-to-year additions, 

 these birds build huge nests of sticks and sagebrush, some of which will 

 support a man. The nests are usually located in the low junipers that 

 are characteristic of that area and are seldom more than 2.0 feet from the 

 ground (Plate 2.9, A). Twenty-eight nests inspected in that territory and 

 two in Harney County between April 3 and May 13 were found to con- 

 tain from one to five eggs (mostly three to five). 



The Ferruginous Rough-leg is a persistent hunter of ground squirrels 

 and rabbits and is known by a few farmers as the "Squirrel Hawk." In 

 common with other large hawks of this group, it should be rigorously 

 protected and not subjected to persecution. 



Golden Eagle: 



Aquila chrysaetos canadensis (Linnaeus) 



DESCRIPTION. "A bird of great size, robust form, and powerful physique. Tarsus 

 closely feathered all around to the toes, outer and middle toes webbed at base; bill 

 large, long; wings long, pointed; tail moderate, rounded, or graduated; feathers of 

 occiput and nape lanceolate. Sexes alike. Adults: whole bird dark brown, lance- 

 olate feathers of hind neck and those on legs lighter brown; wing quills black; tail 

 blackish, more or less clouded or irregularly banded with grayish. Young: like adult, 

 but basal part of tail plain white, under parts white beneath the surface [Plate 30]. 

 Male: length 30-35, extent about 6^ to 7 feet, wing 2.5.00-1.4.70, tail 14-15, bill 

 1.50-1.61. Female: length 35-40, extent about 7 to 7^ feet, wing 15-2.7, tail 15.16, 

 bill 1.68-1.85." (Bailey) Nest.- A bulky platform of sticks, lined with softer 

 material, such as grass, feathers, or moss, usually (in Oregon) on a cliff, although 

 occasionally in a big tree (Plate 2,9, B). Eggs: x, white or irregularly marked with 

 brown. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from northern Alaska and northwestern Mackenzie 

 south to Lower California, central Mexico, and Texas. In Oregon: Permanent resi- 



