48 



ORDER X. RAPTORES— Birds of Prey 



A. Head entirely without feathers, nostrils longitudinal Cathartidae. 



A. Head fully featherd, nostrils vertical or roundish (B) 



B. Eyes lateral, not surrounded by discs of radiating feathers .... 



Falconidse. 



B. Eyes set in front, surrounded by discs of radiating feathers. . . (C) 



C. Middle claw pectinate Strigidae. 



C. Middle claw not pectinate Bubonidae. 



Family CATHARTID^ — American Vultures 



1. A very large bird, 26 to 32 inches long, dull black, naked headed, hook 

 billed; tail rounded, nostrils large and broad; skin of neck and head 

 red Turkey Vulture. 



1. Somewhat smaller, 22 to 27 inches long; blacker; tail square; nostrils 

 small and narrow; skin of head and neck black Black Vulture. 



325. *Cathartes aura (Linnaeus) — Turkey Vulture; Turkey Buzzard. 



A moderately common bird during spring, summer and fall; rare 

 in winter. It has been reported as nesting in Sioux, Cherry, Frontier, 

 Custer, Douglas, Lancaster, and Richardson counties — practically 

 throughout the state in suitable localities. 



326. Catharista urubu (Vieillot) — Black Vulture; Carrion Crow. 



The Black Vulture, which is confined chiefly to the warmer portions 

 of the United States and tropical America, is known to wander north- 

 ward casually to Maine, Ohio, Illinois, and South Dakota. We have 

 a single authentic record by D. H. Talbot, who took it on Wolf 

 creek. Other, but unconfirmed, reports would point to its occasion- 

 ally visiting our southern borders. 



Family FALCONID^ — Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, Etc. 



1. Talons or claws all of the same length, narrowed and rounded on lower 

 side; wing 17 to 22 inches long; scales of the tarsus small, rounded 



Osprey. 



1. Talons of graduated length, the hind one longest, the outer shortest ... (2) 

 2. Tarsus densely feathered all around and to the toes; wing 22 to 



28 inches long Golden Eagle. 



2. Tarsus bare for at least one-third of its length, or if feathered to 



the toes, having a bare strip behind (3) 



3. Tarsus bare behind, feathered to the toes in front; length of wing, 15 to 



20 inches (4) 



3. Tarsus not feathered to the toes even in front; size quite variable (5) 



4. Feathers of legs more or less buffy ; bill small and weak 



American Rough-legged Hawk. 



4. Feathers of legs bright brownish red with black bars; bill much 



longer and stronger Ferruginous Rough-leg. 



5. Wing over 19 inches long ; adult with white head, neck, and tail.Bald Eagle. 

 5. Wing under 18 inches (g\ 



