96 RAPTORES : Birds of Prey 



ACCIPITRID^E (Family Kites, Hawks, Eagles, etc.): Me- 

 dium to very large; bill short, strongly hooked; legs and feet 

 very strong, with long, curved claws, to kill and carry prey. 



WHITE-TAILED KITE 



(328. Elanus leucurus) 16| in. 



Upper parts bluish gray, whitening on rump and tail; 

 shoulders black; entire lower parts white. 



Its conspicuous color, unsuspicious nature, and habit of 

 hovering, make this bird an easy mark for brave gunners who 

 have almost extirpated the species within United States 

 boundaries. With numbers so sadly depleted, its early extinction 

 north of the Mexican line is almost inevitable. 



MARSH HAWK 



(331. Circus hudsonius) 18-21 in. 



Adult males: Slaty blue above; lighter on throat and whiten- 

 ing on breast and belly, these marked with small brown wedges. 



Adult females and immature males: Dusky brown above, 

 rusty brown below; below more or less black-streaked. 



An imperfect facial disc gives the head an almost owlish look. 

 Long tail and snow-white rump are certain recognition marks, 

 as is also its habit of sailing close over the ground while hunting. 



SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 



(332. Accipiter velox) 11-15 in. 



Similar to No. 333, but much smaller, the male hardly larger 

 than the familiar Sparrow Hawk. Tail square-cut (that of the 

 Cooper is rounded) and crown less black. 



With its congeners the Cooper Hawk and Goshawk this 

 species is noted for absolute fearlessness when pursuing its prey, 

 which consists almost entirely of small birds. 



