102 RAPTORES : Birds of Prey 



WESTERN RED-TAIL 



(337b. Buteo borealis calurus) 20-24 in. 



Adults: Vary from a sooty brown throughout, somewhat 

 lighter below, to grayish brown back and wings, with buffy 

 below, dusky-streaked on sides, brownish band across chest and 

 white throat. In the light phase, adults have upper side of tail 

 bright rusty. 



Immature?: White below, heavily streaked with dusky; tail 

 with numerous dusky bars and no rusty. 



A highly beneficial Hawk, feeding chiefly on destructive 

 rodents, but disappearing with advance of civilization. 



SWAINSON HAWK 



(342. Buteo swainsoni) 20-22 in. 



Adults, normal phase: Gray-brown above; below, white with 

 wide brownish breast-band, lined with black; tail barred, this 

 often not visible in the field. Dark phase: Wholly dull black, 

 more or less mixed with rusty. 



Immatures: Under parts heavily black-streaked on rusty buff. 



A beneficial species of considerable importance in some 

 localities, but not sufficiently wary to maintain such a status 

 indefinitely. 



RED-BELLIED HAWK 



(339b. Buteo lineatus elegans) 18-20 in. 



Male: Feathers of back and crown dusky with rusty edgings, 

 sometimes grayish over all; wings dusky, heavily gray-spotted; 

 whole under parts cinnamon, with throat finely lined with dusky 

 and belly gray-barred; tail dusky, white-banded. 



Female: Browner, streaked and spotted below. 



Like the familiar Red-tail in shape but averages much 

 smaller. Unsuspicious in nature, nesting often near human 

 habitations, they have suffered accordingly. Rated as highly 

 beneficial. 



