[196] BIRDSOFOREGON 



THE NORTHERN BALD EAGLE was first recorded from Oregon in the report 

 of the Lewis and Clark expedition (Lewis and Clark 1814), which men- 

 tioned that it had been seen about the mouth of the Columbia on Novem- 

 ber 30, 1805, and again on January z, 1806. Townsend (1839) listed it, 

 and Newberry (1857) found it common along the Columbia and Willa- 

 mette Rivers and abundant about the Klamath Lakes. Heermann (1859) 

 recorded it as common at the falls of the Columbia, and Suckley (1860) 

 considered it abundant. Bendire (Brewer 1875) reported it from Camp 

 Harney, and both Mearns (1879) an d Merrill (1888) considered it a 

 common breeding species about Fort Klamath. Applegate (1905^ stated 

 it was common about Klamath, and this district is still one of the areas 

 in which it is most regularly found. 



Examining our own notes, we find that it has become rather an un- 

 common bird in Oregon, except along the coast where a number of pairs 

 still breed. It also occurs fairly regularly along the Columbia River and 

 in the Klamath Lake country. Aside from these areas, our records show 

 recent reports of scattered individuals from the lakes of the Wallowa 

 Mountains, the Deschutes River and lakes about its headwaters, Harney 

 Valley, Lake County, and the headwaters of the Umpqua River. 



Of the several pairs that still nest along the coast, all but two known 

 to us built their nests on inaccessible cliffs. Those two chose sites high 

 in old spruce trees near salt water. Patterson reported eggs taken in 

 western Klamath County on April 6 and zz, 192.2.. 



Marsh Hawk: 



Circus kudsonius (Linnaeus) 



DESCRIPTION. "Bill with conspicuous bristles; face encircled by an owl-like ruff of 

 short feathers; tarsus slender, much longer than middle toe and claw; a basal web 

 between middle and outer toes; claws large and sharp, much curved; four outer 

 primaries cut out on inner webs, second to fifth on outer webs. Adult male: body 

 bluish slate, streaked with white and becoming pure ivhtte on rump and belly; under 

 parts lightly specked with reddish brown; tail with 6 or 8 bands, on nearest end 

 widest and blackest; tips of wing black. Adult female and young: brown or rusty, 

 more or less streaked. Length: 19.50-14.00, wing 11.90-16.00, tail 8.80-10.50." 

 (Bailey) Nest: On the ground, usually of grass and lined somewhat with feathers 

 (Plate 31, A). Eggs: 4 to 6, pale greenish, either with or without blotches and spots 

 of brown and buff. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from Alaska, Mackenzie, Manitoba, Ontario, Que- 

 bec, and Newfoundland south to Lower California, Arizona, Texas, southern Illinois, 

 Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia. Winters over most of United States and south 

 to Columbia. In Oregon: Permanent resident, much more common east than west of 

 Cascades. Least common on coast. 



THE MARSH HAWK (Plate 31, A) is easily distinguished from all other 

 hawks by its trim shape, its comparatively long tail, and the square 

 white patch at the upper base of its tail. It was first listed by Townsend 



