92 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



and poultry it destroys." "Fortunately it is not numerous 

 enough in our state to inflict any appreciable damage. 



127. (337.) BUTEO BOREALIS (Gmel.). 171. 

 Red-tailed Hawk. 



Synonyms: Buteo aquilinus, Falco' boreal is, F. aquilinus. 



Red-tailed Buzzard, Hen Hawk. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 161, 178. 



This large hawk appears to be migratory to some extent, 

 passing farther south in winter when the ground is covered 

 with snow. However, it is 'a fairly common resident over 

 the entire state. It is sometimes absent from the northern 

 counties for two or three weeks during the period of snow 

 covered ground, usually in the early part of February. It 

 has the undeserved title of "Hen Hawk," which should be 

 transferred to the Goshawk. While it is true that this large 

 hawk sometimes feeds upon poultry in some regions more 

 than in others, it clearly prefers other quarry. Dr. 

 Fisher says, "Abundant proof is at hand to show that this 

 Hawk greatly prefers the smaller mammals, reptiles and 

 batrachians, taking little else when these are obtainable in 

 sufficient numbers ; but if hard pressed by hunger it will eat 

 almost any form of animal life, such as poultry and other 



birds, insects, crawfish, or even offal or carrion It 



is to be remarked that young Hawks are less particular as 

 to the character of their food, and they are more frequently 

 found to be the depredators of the poultry yards." Rev. 

 Mr. Henninger has found that in southern Ohio, at least in 

 Pike and Scioto counties, the Red-tails feed almost exclu- 

 sively upon birds and poultry. 



With the evidence all in we must say that while this large 

 hawk is sometimes a menace to the poultry yard and at such 

 times must be killed, it is generally far more beneficial than 

 injurious, and therefore should not be persecuted unto death 

 whenever found. 



This hawk may be seen soaring in ascending spirals al- 

 most anywhere in any region of the state on fair days. It 

 nests in the woods, but apparently feeds as much in the open 



