194 BIRDS 



BROAD-WINGED HAWK 



This well-behaved raptor occurs in heavily timbered 

 sections north of the Ohio River, from the Atlantic to the 

 tier of States west of the Mississippi, north through Minne- 

 sota, Wisconsin, and the Great Lakes region. Their retir- 

 ing habits make these birds less conspicuous than many of 

 our large hawks. Their unsuspicious nature allows them 

 to be approached and killed by ignorant hunters who do 

 not know their usefulness. 



The adult birds are handsomely marked on the under- 

 parts with various shades of fawn and brown. The feathers 

 are edged with white. Immature birds do not have the 

 underparts barred, but the breast and sides are streaked 

 with dark chestnut. Their note is a long-drawn-out whistle, 

 often heard when the bird is concealed among the treetops. 



A rather slow-flying hawk, feeding largely on insects, 

 rodents, reptiles, and rarely on birds, they are decidedly 

 useful, and deserve full protection. 



When disturbed on their nests, they fly to a distant tree 

 and show very little alarm or anger. The nests are usually 

 situated close to the tree trunks, twenty-five to fifty feet 

 above the ground, preferably in trees situated in deep 

 woods where the foliage is dense. The nests are of sticks 

 and bark lined with green leaves, a peculiarity of this hawk. 

 Two and three eggs are laid in May, about thirty days 

 later than other hawks assume the same duties. The eggs 

 have a light bluish-white background, and are absolutely 

 clouded with shades of light brown and lavender. 



