192 BIRDS 



the Pacific Ocean and passing southward into Mexico. As 

 a casual visitor it has also been observed east of mountain 

 system. It is only a summer resident in the northern 

 part of its range. It is one of the earliest of the migrating 

 birds to return to its nesting localities in the spring and 

 one of the last to wend its way southward in the fall. 



Its call notes are very similar to those of the common 

 red-tail and consist of "shrill squeals, uttered during the 

 greater part of the day while circling high in the air." 



Though its nest is sometimes placed very near the 

 ground, it usually builds at a height of from twenty-five to 

 fifty feet, and nests have been observed in the tops of 

 gigantic redwood and pine trees that were not less than one 

 hundred feet above the base of the tree. Several species of 

 trees are acceptable to this hawk as a place for its home, 

 and it has also been known to build its nest in a species of 

 gigantic cactus. When suitable trees are not to be found, 

 the western red-tail is equal to the emergency and will occa- 

 sionally be satisfied with a cliff or the "sides of a perpen- 

 dicular bluff " upon which to construct its home. 



Though this species does occasionally attack poultry and 

 other birds, the name "hen hawk" should never be applied 

 to it. The number of domestic fowls and wild birds that it 

 destroys is very small when compared with the large num- 

 ber of the noxious smaller mammals and grasshoppers 

 which it kills. When grasshoppers are common they form 

 this hawk's chief article of diet during the months of late 

 summer and early autumn. The western red-tail is a friend 

 to the agriculturist, and is a worthy object of his apprecia- 

 tion and protection. 



