SUPPLEMENT TO BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY lOI 



I watched one at Ipswich that alighted in the salt-marsh and stayed there 

 for five minutes. 



One that visited my place at Ipswich on September 3, 1915, killed in a short 

 time a Robin and a half-grown chicken. I flushed the hawk who was feasting on 

 the remains of the chicken within ten feet of me. 



The recognition of this bird in the field is given under the Sharp-shinned 

 Hawk. 



148 [334] Astur atricapillus atricapillus (Wils.). 



Goshawk. 



Rare and irregular winter visitor; at times common. September 28 to 

 April 22. 



A large flight from the North of this splendid but destructive hawk occurred 

 during the winter of 1906-07, and these birds were reported from all over the 

 County. A female Goshawk seized a live Black Duck decoy in the Topsfield 

 Marshes of the Ipswich River in November, 1906, and was shot by Mr. Julian M. 

 Dodge. On December 16 of that year, an adult alighted in the top of an apple 

 tree on my place at Ipswich. Another flight occurred in the winter of 1917-18. 



The Goshawk has the same characteristics as the Accipiters in its flight, 

 boldness, and general appearance. It is about twice as large as a Sharp-shinned 

 Hawk but has similar short rounded wings and long tail which is rounded or 

 graduated like that of the Cooper's Hawk. The adult is bluish slate-color above 

 with a dark crown and patch on cheek, but the immature is brown above and 

 lighter below like a Buteo. Its characteristic shape and manner of flying easily 

 distinguish it. 



149 [337] Buteo borealis borealis (Gmel.). 

 Red-tailed Hawk ; " Hen Hawk." 

 Very rare summer resident, more common transient visitor; rare in winter. 

 Eggs: April 27. 



The cry of this hawk is a piercing whistle strongly suggestive, as Chapman 

 says, of the sound made by escaping steam. , 



All the Buteos are distinguished by their broad wings and short tails and their 

 habit of soaring in circles. The Red-tailed Hawk is slightly larger than the Red- 

 shouldered Hawk and the adult can be recognized by its rich rufous or terra-cotta 

 red tail as seen in a good light either from above or below ; immature birds lack 

 this tail coloring. 



