BIRDS OF NEW YORK 71 



Length cf 17.50-19 inches, 9 19-22; extent cf 40-45, 9 45-52; 

 wing cf 13-14.50, 9 14-16.50; tail cf 9-10, 9 9.50-10.50; tarsus 2.75-3.25. 



Field marks. This is the easiest of our native hawks to identify. 

 The long wings and tail, light build, low wavering or coursing flight when 

 hawking over the marshes or meadows, distinguish the Marsh hawk at 

 a great distance. The very light color of the old males and the dark brown- 

 ish appearance of the females and young coupled with the conspicuous 

 white upper tail coverts make identification doubly sure. 



Distribution. The Marsh hawk is one of the most abundant and 



I 



generally distributed members of its family in North America, occurring 

 from Panama to the Arctic tundras, and wintering from 41st parallel south- 

 ward. In New York it breeds in every portion of the State, from an 

 altitude of 2000 to 3000 feet in the Adirondacks (EJk lake, Flowed land) 

 to the tidal marshes of Long Island and the lower Hudson river. In the 

 warmer portions of the State a few pass the winter, particularly along the 

 coast and Hudson river, but they are commonest in nearly all portions of 

 New York from March 10 to April 30, and from August i to November 

 10, especially in early April and in September and October, when the bulk 

 of the migration is accomplished. 



Habits. Like the Sparrow hawk this species is most common in the 

 open country, hunting its prey over meadows, marshes and waste fields. 

 Though it sometimes watches from a low perch, it usually searches out 

 the mice and small birds which constitute its principal food by hawking 

 with slowly circling or wavering flight over the marshes and lowland 

 meadows. When attracted by some movement in the grass it wheels 

 suddenly about and shoots upward a short distance to examine the spot; 

 at other times it turris a complete somersault or makes a half turn and drops 

 suddenly in the grass to strike its humble and unsuspecting quarry. The 

 prey is devoured on the spot or carried to some sheltered hummock or 

 muskrat house and swallowed without the plucking or tearing which is 

 the custom of falcons and true hawks, but more after the manner of the 

 Buteos . Doctor Fisher reports that " of 1 24 stomachs examined, 7 contained 



