162 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Cooper's Hawk is a more common breeder than the Sharp-shinned, 

 and, like it, is most common in migrations, being rare in winter in the 

 northern part of the State. 



This is probably our most destructive Hawk, and much damage to 

 poultry and small birds that is charged up to the harmless Red-tailed 

 and Red-shouldered Hawks belongs to this species. In fact, the only 

 other species which are injurious are the Sharp-shinned, Goshawk and 

 Duck Hawk, but the last two are too rare to require much considera- 

 tion. If the poultry yard defender would learn to distinguish the 

 Cooper's Hawk, instead of slaughtering the beneficial Hawks as well, 

 he would find it to his advantage, as these other species live almost 

 entirely upon field mice and grasshoppers. 



334 Astur atricapillus (Wilson). 

 Goshawk. 



Adults. Length, 22-24. Wing, 12-14. Above, bluish-gray, with narrow 

 black shaft lines ; nape somewhat streaked with white ; head, dusky ; under 

 parts, white finely vermiculated with gray and with black shaft lines ; under tail- 

 coverts, white ; tail, gray, obscurely banded with dusky. 



Young in first year. Brown above, spotted and edged with buff; head and 

 neck with buff streaks ; under parts, white or pale buff, streaked all over with 

 brown; tail broadly barred with brown and buff. 



A rare winter visitant from the north. 



In some years the Goshawk is rather plentiful, but generally it is 

 rare or absent. The winter of 1895-6 was a notable one for Goshawks, 

 even as early as November. They were also plentiful in 1906, occur- 

 ring as far south as Cape May Point. 



This, like its close relatives, the Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks, 

 is a destructive species. 



337 Buteo borealis (Gmelin). 

 Red-tailed Hawk. 



PLATE 31. 



Adults. Length, male, 19-22; female, 23-25. Wing, 14-17. Upper parts, 

 dark brown, edged with grayish, buff and white ; wing-coverts, uniform ; under 

 parts, white, streaked across the abdomen with brown ; sides of neck and body 



