185 



for small (jiukIi iijmmIs and liaci racliiaiis, wliieli consli- 

 lute its principal fare. Vonng birds, which arc 

 known to many as Winler Falcons, are, according to 

 my experience, much inorc fi-equi^ntly met with than 

 full plumaged adults. 



THE NEST AND EGGS. 



Like other birds of this genus, the Red-shouldered 

 Hawk nests in trees, usually in April and May in this 

 locality. The eggs, two lo four in number, are very 

 similar to those of the Red-tail, but smaller. 



"The rust cl(.<se)y resembles that of the crow, except that it 

 is larger and lacks the compact and neat appearance common 

 to the nc-^t of tie latter bird. It is composed of coarse 

 sticks loosely placed together with finer ones toward the cen- 

 tral cavity, which is lined with the bark of the grape vine and 

 ether fibres, or, in sr nx. cases, with pieces of the rougii outer 

 bark of the oak and hickory, and not uncommonly, as with 

 many of the other bird.s of prey, green twigs with leav3s at- 

 tached are used. 



"Bottom landp grown up with large deciduous trees, or the 

 neighboring hillsides, are the favorite nesting sites of this 

 bird. The nest in placed in one of the larger trees 40 to SO 

 feet from the ground, and usually in the fork where the main 

 branches diverge from the trunk. A pair will inhabit the 

 same locality for years, and often occupy a nest for several 

 seasons. =■'• * * It is stated that this species -.vmains 

 mated through life, and that even during the winter months 

 mates appear very much attached to each other, differing in 

 this respect from the Red-tail." — Fisher. 



DOES NOT PREY ON CHICKENS. 



Although this hawk is frequently charged with de- 

 stroying domestic fowls, observation in the field and 

 numerous dissections of food-receptacles of this spe- 

 cies do not by any means justify such a statement. 

 My experience on this subject agrees in the main with 

 that of Dr. A. K. Fisher, who says: 



"Some authors insist that the Red-shouldered Hawk is de- 

 structive lo poultry, but the writer in all his lield experience 

 has never seen one attacl-;. a fowl, nor has he found the re- 

 mains of one in the stomachs of those examined. In making 

 this statement, he- does nut include poultry which is eaten in 



