80 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



AMERICAN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 



(Buteo lagopus s.johannis) 



From its summer home in the north, the 

 American rough-leg comes into the United 

 States in fall migration, often traveling 

 in flocks. As the name indicates, the 

 rough-legged hawks differ from our other 

 species in having the leg feathered to the 

 toes. 



The American rough-leg is large and 

 powerfully built, but, in spite of its 

 strength, it feeds principally on mice, lem- 

 mings in the north and meadow mice in 

 the south being staple foods. Rabbits are 

 eaten where they are abundant, and large 

 insects, such as grasshoppers, are eaten 

 occasionally. The bird is entirely harm- 

 less, as it seldom kills other birds or 

 poultry. 



This hawk nests in the far north, rang- 

 ing there in open country, seldom coming 

 into densely forested areas. The nests are 

 composed of sticks, the cavity lined with 

 dry grass and feathers, and are built on 

 ledges along bluffs or are placed in trees. 

 The same location may be used for years, 

 and the nest grows in bulk until it is of 

 large size. 



Eggs are two to five in number, with 

 three or four making the usual set. They 

 are pale greenish white, fading to dingy 

 white, spotted and blotched with brown of 

 different shades, and shell markings of 

 lavender and gray. One brood is reared 

 each season. 



I'EATHER IvEGGINGS KEEP OUT THE COLD 



The birds vary considerably in colora- 

 tion from light to dark, but may always 

 be distinguished by the feathered legs, or 

 tarsi. The feather growth is heavy, par- 

 ticularly in fall and winter, so that the 

 severest cold may be withstood. In the 

 West they remain in the Northern States 

 during the coldest weather of winter. 



The note, heard mainly during the nest- 

 ing season, is a low mewing call, suggest- 

 ing the sound made by a young kitten. 



The American rough-leg nests from the 

 Aleutian Islands, the Arctic coast of 

 Alaska, and northern Quebec, south to 

 northern Alberta and Newfoundland. In 

 winter it is found from southern British 

 Columbia, Colorado, and southern On- 

 tario south to southern California, Texas, 

 and North Carolina. Closely allied races 

 are found in Europe and Asia. 



FERRUGINOUS ROUGH-LEGGED 

 HAWK 



(Buteo regalis) 



This handsome hawk, so large that it 

 is often called an eagle, is found in regions 

 of prairies and plains, avoiding heavy tim- 

 ber. It lives only in the western part of 

 our continent, and in uninhabited sections 

 still remains fairly common. However, 

 when an increase in agriculture takes place 

 in any part of its nesting ground, it is 

 crowded out. 



In much of its range it is known as 

 "squirrel hawk," as ground squirrels and 

 prairie dogs form a considerable part of 

 its food. It also eats many pocket gophers. 

 Birds, particularly meadowlarks, are cap- 

 tured during the summer season, and an 

 occasional grouse may be taken, but these 

 hawks are not known to harm poultry. 

 They also eat large snakes. They are 

 considered beneficial because of their de- 

 struction of harmful mammals. 



Frequently hunting in pairs, they cap- 

 ture game that might otherwise escape. 

 In hunting prairie dogs, the hawks rest 

 until the animal is away from its burrow, 

 when one gets between the prairie dog and 

 its hole, thereby making capture an easy 

 matter. The birds are strong and pow- 

 erful and can carry rabbits to their nests 

 with ease. 



The nests are placed on cliffs, on sloping 

 hillsides, or in trees, sometimes in locali- 

 ties difficult of access, sometimes where 

 they can be approached without trouble. 

 They are often occupied for years, and 

 occasionally grow to large size, Taverner 

 recording one about ten feet high. They 

 are composed of sticks, those in the base 

 being often of large size, with a lining of 

 grass and other soft materials. 



The eggs are two to five and are green- 

 ish or creamy white, blotched and spotted 

 handsomely with brown and lavender. 

 One brood is reared each season. 



On their nesting grounds these hawks 

 utter screaming calls that have been lik- 

 ened to those of eagles, and the young 

 are said to be quite vociferous. 



The ferruginous rough-leg breeds from 

 southern Alberta and Manitoba to north- 

 eastern California, New Mexico, and Kan- 

 sas. It is found in winter from Califoi-nia 

 and Montana to Baja California and 

 northern Mexico, and has been observed 

 casually in Wisconsin and Illinois. 



