Broad-winged Hawk 
Buteo platypterus 
Diagnosis of Genus. 
The Buteos, Buses or Buzzard-hawks, forming the central 
or typical genus of the Accipitrinee, are found more or less 
numerously in all parts of the world except Australia. Diff- 
cult of difinition except by process of exclusion. Form ro- 
bust and heavy, flight vigorous and sustained. Bill short, 
wide at base, intermediate between that of Astur and that 
of Parabuteo. Tarsi and toes moderate and robust, claws 
strong. Wings long and rather pointed, the third to the 
fifth quill longest, the first shorter than the eighth, outer 
three or four with inner webs emarginate. Tail moderate, 
rather wide, from slightly rounded to almost even. In the 
adult plumage the best specific characters may be found in 
the color and markings of the tail. The synonymy of the 
genus is as follows: Buteo Lacepede, Tableaux Ois., 1799. 
Type Falco buteo Linneus, S. N. ed. 10, I, 1758, 90. Buteo 
buteo Licht. Nomencl. Mus. Busl. 1854, 3; European Buz- 
zard. 
Distinguishing Specific Characters. 
Buteo platypterus may be readily distinguished from Buteo 
swainsom and B, albicaudatus, by its smaller size, its shorter 
wings, the tips of its primaries reaching only to the middle 
of its tail, and by its fewer and comparatively distinct tail 
bars; from B. brachyurus, by its well marked underparts; 
and from all other species of North American Buteos, by its 
three primaries emarginated on the inner web. 
Description and Measurements, 
The juvenile or first year phase of Buteo platypterus pla- 
iypterus may be easily recognized by the broad rufous or 
rusty edging of the upper parts, the longitudinal markings 
