[198] BIRDS OF OREGON 



(1839) and has been reported as common in eastern Oregon by Newberry 

 (1857), Suckley (1860), Bendire (1877), Mearns (1879), and Merrill 

 (1888), as well as numerous later observers. Johnson (1880) reported it 

 from East Portland, Forest Grove, and Salem; Anthony (Bailey 1901) 

 thought it rare at Portland; Woodcock (1902.) stated it was uncommon 

 at Corvallis; and Shelton (1917) considered it of irregular occurrence in 

 Lane County. In eastern Oregon, it is an exceedingly common species 

 about the irrigated areas and the hayfields of the big stock ranches and 

 is regularly found in the grain-growing sections. Patterson took eggs in 

 Klamath County, May i and 6, 192.2., and Jewett found a nest at Malheur 

 Lake, May 19, 192.4, with three well-incubated eggs. He also found a 

 nest near Malheur Caves on June 2.9 containing young. The species is 

 uncommon but occasionally seen in all parts of the Willamette Valley. 

 It is a rarity on the coast, where our only records are of those seen by 

 Jewett at Tillamook, November 9, 1915, and at Brookings, Curry County, 

 March 14, 1933. It has not been noted in either the Rogue or Umpqua 

 Valleys. 



The Marsh Hawk habitually feeds by circling and swinging low over 

 the marshes and pasture lands, seldom being seen high in the air. It is 

 and has been the subject of much debate. Sportsmen, seeing it quartering 

 the marshes, immediately visualize it as spending its entire time feeding 

 on ducks. We feel that it seldom kills a healthy adult duck, although it 

 may capture wounded birds and feed to a limited extent on young duck- 

 lings. Meadow mice, which usually are abundant in the surrounding 

 hay lands, are its staple article of diet, whereas its depredations on ducks 

 are limited to a few weeks during the summer when the downy young 

 are present in numbers. 



Osprey: 



Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (Gmelin) 



DESCRIPTION. "Plumage close, firm, imbricated, oily- feet large and strong, roughly 

 granular; toes all free to the base, outer toe reversible; claws all the same length; 

 wings long, pointed; tail short. Adult male: Head, neck, and under parts white, 

 head more or less streaked with blackish, broad dark streak on side of head; breast 

 sometimes slightly blotched with brown; tail narrowly tipped with white and 

 crossed by 6 or 7 narrow blackish bands. Adult female: similar, but chest heavily 

 spotted with brown. Young: sexes similar to adults, but upper parts blackish 

 brown, feathers tipped with white or buffy. Length: 2.0.75-15.00, extent about 65, 

 wing 17-2.1 , tail 7-10, bill i .zo-i .45 . ' ' (Bailey) Nest: A mass of sticks, weed stalks, 

 and similar material, lined with softer material and placed almost anywhere, on the 

 ground, on old buildings, cliffs, or in trees. In Oregon, almost invariably in tall 

 trees. Eggs: Usually 3, variable in color, generally white overlaid with buffy and 

 frequently heavily blotched with browns of various shades. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from Alaska, Mackenzie, Hudson Bay, Labrador, 

 and Newfoundland south to Gulf coast, Mexico, and Lower California. Winters 



