i 4 4 HOW TO STUDY BIRDS 



Westward one finds the Swainson's hawk, a big 

 bird, like the red-tail except that the tail has no red 

 and is banded, and also the large ferruginous rough- 

 leg, distinguished by its white tail. In the South 

 there are several interesting species called kites. 

 These are the principal hawks that the beginner is 

 liable to meet. 



Eagles are also hawks, strictly speaking. The 

 golden eagle is so rare that the bald eagle, the bird 

 of our national emblem, is the only species which one 

 can expect to meet. The immature eagles are a dark 

 brown, almost blackish, all over, the white head and 

 tail not being acquired at first. The eagle is so much 

 larger than any hawk that no one could fail to recog- 

 nize it, unless in the distance they should confound 

 the immature eagle and the buzzards or vultures, 

 which, of course, have the bare skinny head and neck. 

 Their soaring, though, is quite after the manner of 

 the eagle. In the Middle States, and now and then 

 in southern New England, the turkey buzzard is 

 found, and farther south the other species, the black 

 buzzard, a more heavily-built bird with a rather in- 

 distinct whitish patch on the wing. 



The principal large owl is the great horned owl, 

 with large ear-tufts and yellow iris. Another species, 

 a trifle smaller, is the barred owl, which lacks ear- 

 tufts and has black eyes. Even when not seen they 

 can be distinguished by their hootings; the former 

 usually has three notes in its " song," while the barred 

 owl launches out in a more elaborate effort. In win- 



