EED-SHOULDEKED HAWK 241 



from below ; a large part of the under side of the wings 

 when spread is tvhite without any barring, and offers a 

 marked contrast to the hlaclc tips. 



E.ED-SHOULDEEED Hawk. Buteo Uneatus 

 $ 18.30. 5 20.35 



Ad. ^- Bend of wing and under parts reddish-brown; tail black, 

 crossed with five or six narrow white bars. Im, — Upper parts 

 dark brown, spotted with white; tail dark, crossed with grayish 

 bands ; under parts whitish, streaked or spotted with brown. 



Nest, in large trees, from fifty to seventy-five feet up. Eggs, 

 white or whitish, spotted with brown. 



The Red-shouldered Hawk, called Hen Hawk by the 

 farmers, is the commonest hawk in southern New England 

 and the lower Hudson Valley. It is a permanent resident, 

 but less common in winter than in summer in the northern 

 portion of its range. It becomes rare at the edge of the 

 Canadian Zone. It may be seen circling high overhead, 

 often screaming tee'-ur tee'-ur, or a pair may be seen over 

 low, swampy woods, screaming, and soaring higher and 

 higher, till they become mere specks in the blue. In fall 

 and winter it often perches on some favorite tree, watching 

 for mice or frogs in the low meadows or swampy grounds. 

 The Ked-shouldered Hawk is not swift enough to pursue 

 many birds on the wing, as the Falcons and Accipiters do ; 

 it either watches the ground from a perch, as above de- 

 scribed, or when soaring high overhead, scans the ground 

 or trees beneath it for mice, squirrels, rabbits, and occasion- 

 ally birds. When it sees its prey, it closes wings and tail, 

 and drops swiftly down upon it. 



Adults have reddish-brown tender parts, and may be 

 thus distinguished from Eed-tailed Hawks ; but immature 

 birds of both species differ very little, and can hardly be 

 distinguished unless killed. The notes of the two, however, 

 differ, and in spring and summer are excellent means of 



