Large Nests in Trees 
337.. Red-tailed Hawk: Buteo borealis (Gmel.) 
Adult—Upper parts dark brown; the feathers marked with rust 
colour and buff ; tail bright chestnut, with a dark band and 
whitish tip. Under parts: Breast buffy white, with heavy 
streaks on the upper part, and few or none on the lower 
part ; belly whitish ; sides streaked with brown. 
Immature—The tail brown instead of chestnut. Length—<¢, 
20.00; , 23.00. 
Breeding Range—The Eastern States. 
The nest, which is very large and shallow, is made of sticks, 
moss, and grass, and sometimes feathers ; it is placed against the 
trunk, usually at a considerable height. Pine trees situated in 
the dense forests are most often used. 2 to 3, and sometimes 
4, eggs are laid ; they are whitish, either unmarked or heavily 
blotched with shades of reddish and yellowish brown and lilac, 
occasionally the markings confined to the larger end. Size— 
2.36 x 1.80. 
These large and handsome hawks usually build their own 
nests every year ; but in some instances they have been known 
to use the old nests of either hawks or crows. 
The breeding season, varying according to locality, begins 
in April or May ; in the neighbourhood of New York nests may 
be found early in April. 
337d. Harlan’s Hawk: Buteo borealis harlani (Aud.) 
Breeding Range—‘‘ The Gulf States and Lower Mississippi Valley, 
north to Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Kansas.” (Davie.) 
A sub-species of the red-tailed hawk, being somewhat 
smaller, darker in colour on the back, belly spotted, and the tail 
mottled with rusty red, black, gray, and whitish. 
The nest is placed in a large tree; it is composed of sticks, 
lined with leaves and moss. 
2 eggs mentioned by Davie measure 2.40 x 1.81 and 
2.45 x 1.83; ‘‘their ground colour is bluish white, blotched with 
brown; in one somewhat sparingly over the small end, and in 
the other specimen sprinkled over the entire surface.” 
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