94 THE RAPTORIAL BIRDS OF IOWA 



Tail rufous with one distinct black bar near the white tip. Feathers 

 of the legs whitish with few if any markings. 



Immature : Marked above much like the adult. Below with no 

 red anywhere, but a belt of dusky markings across the lower part 

 of the breast. Tail grayish, crossed by six to ten dark bands. 



Measurements. Length, 19 to 25 inches; wing, 13.50 to 17.75 

 inches; tail, 8.50 to 10.50 inches. 



Range. Eastern North America from Wisconsin, Iowa and east- 

 ern Texas eastward. 



The size and relative abundance of this large hawk make it easily 

 the most conspicuous of the diurnal birds of prey within the state. 

 It is not an uncommon sight to those who live in rural districts to 

 see this "big chicken-hawk," as it is commonly called, perched on 

 some dead tree in the pasture, or flapping slowly across the road from 

 field to field. At mid-day it may be seen with wings and tail fully 

 spread circling high in the air, its tail showing brick-red in the trans- 

 mitted light as it sails toward the sun, uttering a shrill keeeee keeeee. 



While this species may resort to. rather densely timbered tracts at 

 times, the majority of Red- tails seem to enjoy the margins of the for- 

 ests and pastures which have here and there a dead cottonwood, from 

 which perch a sharp lookout may be kept for the humble prey. 



Sometimes this hawk may be seen on the ground awkwardly ma- 

 neuvering to capture insects, and evidently successful in his efforts. 



It is never more graceful than when, far aloft, with seemingly mo- 

 tionless wings, it sweeps in wide circles, drifting with the breeze. 



The Red-tail, together with other buzzard hawks, lacks the dash 

 of the true falcons, and it is no infrequent sight to see the Kingbird 

 (Tyrannus tyrannus) pursuing and harassing one of these large 

 hawks. 



While the Red-tailed Hawk is far more abundant in the spring, 

 summer and autumn than in the winter months, nevertheless this 

 bird is with us even in the most inclement weather. 



The migratory movements of this species are most easily observed 

 during the late fall when the adults, together with the young, may be 

 seen in widely scattered flocks moving gradually southward as they 

 hunt. They are also to be seen late in March in northern Iowa 

 wheeling and flapping northward on a breeze from the south, some- 

 times a dozen being in sight at once, at other times pairs or singles 

 passing at intervals of a few minutes. 



