THE BIRD BOOK 



331. Marsh Hawk. Circus hudsonius. 



Range. — Whole of North America, very 

 abundant in all sections. 



Pale bluish white 



SfTNfUSSa 



(Adult and young) 

 Marsh Hawk 



The adult of this species is very light colored, 

 and young birds of the first two years have a 

 reddisli brown coloration; in both plumages 

 the species is easily identified by the white 

 patch on the rump. They are, almost exclusively frequenters of fields and 

 marshes, where they can most often be seen, towards dusk, swooping in broad 

 curves near the ground, watching tor field mice, which form the larger portion 

 of their diet. Their nests are made in swampy ground, often in the middle of a 

 large marsh, being placed on the ground in the centre of a hummock or clump 

 of grass; it is generally well lined with grasses and often rushes. They lay 

 from four to seven pale bluish white eggs, generally unmarked: size 1.80x1.40. 



3.'i2. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipiter veloa-. 



Range. — Whole of North America, wintering in tlie United States and south- 

 ward; breeds throughout its range, but most abundantly in northern United 

 States and northward. This is one of tlie smallest of the hawks and in the 



adult plumage is a Ijeautiful species, being bar- 



red below with liglit brown, and liaving a bhiish 



slate back. It is a very spirited and daring ^tM^^^^^^^^C -<" 



bird and is one of the most destructive to small 



birds and young chickens. Its nest is a rude' 



and sometimes very frail platform ot'twigs and 



Bluish white 



leaves placed against the trunk of the tree at 

 any height, but averaging, perhaps, fifteen feet. 

 The eggs are bluish white, beautifully blotched 

 and spotted with shades of brown. 



204 



Sharp-shinned Hawk 



