THE EED-SHOULDEEBD HAWK. 219 



76. Buteo lineatus (Gmelin). 



EED-SHOULDEEED HAWK. 



Falco lineatus Gmelin, Systema Nakiree, i, ii, 1788, 268. 

 Buteo lineatus Jardine, ed. Wilson's American Ornithology, 11, 1833, 290. 

 (B 25, C 352, R 439, C 620, U 339.) 



Geographical range : Eastern North America ; north to Nova Scotia and south- 

 ern Canada; west to Texas and the Great Plains; south to the Gulf coast and 

 Mexico. 



The breeding range of the Red-shouldered Hawk extends through east- 

 ern North America from Maine to Florida, and westward to the borders of 

 the Great Plains. It reaches central Texas, where it appears to be common, 

 and, according to Mr. William Lloyd, it is a rare resident of western Texas; 

 it is also found in the eastern portions of the Indian Territory and in east- 

 ern Kansas and Nebraska. It appears to be rare in Minnesota, and probably 

 occurs in small numbers in the more heavily timbered parts of South and 

 North Dakota. Mr. W. E. D Scott, in his "Birds of the Gulf Coast of 

 Florida," reports it as common and breeding there.^ 



While perhaps the majority of the Red-shouldered Hawks found in the 

 central parts of Texas bear a closer resemblance both in size and coloration 

 to B. lineatus than to the two geographical races, B. lineatus alleni and B. 

 lineatus elegans, they are not typical representatives of either. Specimens 

 from Hale County, central Alabama, shot during the breeding' season, are 

 typical B. lineatus. North of the United States it reaches the southern bor- 

 ders of the Dominion of Canada from northern Nova Scotia, where it is, 

 however, very rare, and westward to eastern Manitoba. Mr. T. Mcllwraith 

 reports it as a common summer resident in southern Ontario,^ and Mr. M. Cham- 

 berlain, in his "Catalogue of Canadian Birds," makes the following remai-ks 

 about this species: "A rather common summer resident of the eastern prov- 

 inces, probably more abundant in Ontario than elsewhere. Dr. Bell rej^orts 

 its occurrence at York Factory, on Hudson Bay; and Mr. Thompson, on 

 the authority of Mr. Hunter, gives it as rather common in eastern Manitoba." 



The habits as well as the ranges of the Red-tailed and Red-shouldered 

 Hawks are very similar; the former being slightly the hardier bird of the 

 two, and reaching somewhat farther north. Like the Red-tailed Hawk, it is 

 only a summer resident in the northern parts of its breeding range, migrating 

 south in winter, some passing into Mexico. It winters commonly in latitude 

 39°, and some remain throughout the year in favorable localities in the south- 

 ern New England States. 



Dr. William L. Ralph writes me: "The Red-shouldered Hawk is the com- 

 monest bird of prey in Oneida and Herkimer Counties, New York. There has 



'Auk, Vol. VI, 1889, p. 247. 

 ^Journal and Proceedings Hamilton Association, Vol. 11, 1886, p. 160. 



