160 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



337. Red-tailed Hawk. Ruteo borealis. 



This is one of the handsomest of 

 the larger hawks, and is the best 

 known in the east, where it is com- 

 monly, but wrongly, designated as 

 "hen hawk," a name, however, 

 which is indiscriminately applied 

 to any bird that has talons and a 

 hked beak. The adult of this 

 species is unmistakable because 

 of its reddish brown tail; young 

 birds are very frequently confound- 

 ed with other species. Their food 

 consists chiefly of small rodents, 

 snakes and lizards, and only 

 occasionally are poultry or birds 

 taken. They nest in the tallest 

 trees in large patches of woods, the 

 nests being made of sticks, weeds, 

 [Pale bluish white.] leaveg and ^ rash> The eggs number 



from two to four, and are white, sometimes heavily, and sometimes sparingly, 

 blotched and spotted with various shades of brown. Size 2.35 x 1.80. 



33 7a. Krider Hawk. Ruteo borealis kriderii. 



Range. Plains of the United States, north to Manitoba. 



This subspecies is described as lighter on the underparts, which are almost 

 immaculate. Its nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of the preced- 

 ing. 



33 7 b. Western Red-tail. Ruteo borealis calurus. 



Range. Western North America, 

 chiefly west of the Rocky Mount- 

 ains. 



This subspecies varies from the 

 plumage of the eastern Red-tail, to 

 a nearly uniform sooty above and 

 below, with the dark red tail crossed 

 by several bands; it is a generally 

 darker variety than the Red-tail. 

 Its nesting habits are the same and 

 the eggs show the great variations 

 in markings that are common to 

 the eastern bird. 



[White. 



33 7d. Harlan Hawk. Ruteo borealis harlani. 



Range. Gulf States and southward, north to Kansas. 



This dark subspecies is generally nearly uniform blackish, but sometimes'is 

 lighter or even white below. Its tail is rusty, mottled with blackish and white. 

 Its nesting habits are the same and the eggs are not distinguishable from those 

 of the other Red-tails. 



