346 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



FOOD OF HAWKS AND OWLS.* 



By Dr. A. K. FISHER, Assistant Ornithologist. 



The present brief synopsis of results, which is preliminary to a special report now 

 in preparation on the food habits of the hawks and owls of the United States, is based 

 on the examination of 1,072 stomachs, 651 of which are in the possession of the de- 

 partment. Of the 421 stomachs not in the department collection, the greater num- 

 ber were examined by Dr. B. H. Warren, state ornithologist of Pennsylvania, and 

 other members of the American Ornithologists' Union. The remainder were com- 

 piled from Professor Samuel Aughey's " Notes on the Nature of the Food 

 of the Birds of Nebraska,"! and Mr. Edward Swift's recent article on "The 

 Food of Rapacious Birds. "J 



Of the 1,072 stomachs examined, 89 were empty. Of the 983 containing food, 57 

 contained poultry ; 20, game birds ; 177, other birds ; 528, mice ; 137, other mammals ; 

 51, reptiles and batrachians, and 255, insects. On looking at the following tables it 

 will be seen that certain species feed principally on mice and insects, while others feed 

 chiefly on poultry and small birds. In the latter category, fortunately, there are 

 but 5 species in the eastern states, namely, the Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, Duck, and 

 Pigeon Hawks, and the Great-Horned Owl. Taking out the 126 stomachs of these 

 five species, there remain 857 stomachs of 23 species, of which 31 contained poultry ; 

 11, game birds ; 109, other birds ; 518, mice ; 125, other mammals ; 49, reptiles and 

 batrachians, and 241, insects. In other words, poultry was found in but 3.6 per cent, 

 of the 857 stomachs, while mice were found in 64.4 per cent. 



In the accompanying table the names of the animals found in the stomachs are 

 given in general terms, such as mouse, mole, shrew. In nearly all cases (more than 

 99 per cent.) the exact species of each has been determined and recorded, and will 

 be given in the final report. This is important, inasmuch as allied species often dif- 

 fer in economic consequence. Some small mammals are beneficial, and the injuri- 

 ous species are harmful in different degrees, according to their food habits and the 

 character of the places which they inhabit. 



The following persons have contributed stomachs of hawks and owls to the de- 

 partment collection : Dr. W. C. Avery, Vernon Bailey, W. B. Barrows, F. M. Chap- 

 man, Hubert L. Clark, William Couper, F. T. Cuthbert, E. O. Damon, L. M. Davies, 

 J. L. Davison, F. J. Dixon, William F. Doertenbach, William Dutcher, Jonathan 

 Dwight, Jr., Dr. A. K. Fisher, W. K. Fisher, M. M. Green, C. C. Hanmer, 

 E. M. Hasbrouck, A. H. Hawley, J. H. Hendrickson, W. F. Hendrickson, H. 

 W. Henshaw, H. K. James, C. A. Keeler, William G. W. Leizear, J. B. Lewis, 

 William Lloyd, F. A. Lucus, Dr. C. Hart Merriam, G. S. Miller, Jr., H. H. Miller, 

 J. Percy Moore, F. S. Place, Charles W. Richmond, Robert Ridgway, C. B. Riker, 

 John H. Sage, W. E. Saunders, J. M. Shaffer, Dr. Hugh M. Smith, R. W. Smith, F. 

 Stephens, Willard E. Treat, Dr. B. H. Warren, F. S. Webster, H. G. White, Otto 

 Widmann, A. H. Wood. 



*Food of hawks and owls. By Dr. A. K. Fisher, assistant ornithologist. From annual report, United 

 States Department Agriculture for 1887. Washington, D. C. , pp. 402-422. 

 t First annual report of United States Entomological Commission, Appendix, pp. 42-4('. 1878. 

 * Forest and Stream. Vol. XXX, No. 6. Wrch 1, 1888, p. 104. 



