134 BIRDS OF ALABAMA 



boreoMs. Dr. Avery noted this bird at Greensboro chiefly 

 as a winter resident, but never found in breeding. McCor- 

 mack records it as rare at Leighton, taken only once, March 

 17, 1891 ; I noted a pair there, April 21, 1914, and a pair near 

 Mount Weisner, October 23, 1916. It has been seen also on 

 Sand Mountain near Carpenter (April), at Ardell (May), 

 Mount Weogufka (June), and at Dean, among the Talladega 

 Mountains (March and June). Eggs have been taken at 

 Prattville, March 4, 1893, and at Autaugaville, April 9, 1909. 

 There are no records of the bird for the coast region, but it 

 probably occurs there, at least in winter. 



General habits. — This hawk is found in timbered regions, 

 both in wet bottom lands and on rocky mountain slopes. It 

 is a shy bird and not partial to thickly settled districts. The 

 adults are easily recognized in flight by the bright red tail 

 and by the large size. The call is described by Chapman as a 

 long-drawn, squealing whistle, suggesting the sound produced 

 by escaping steam. The nests are bulky, placed in tall trees. 



Food habits. — The prejudice against all hawks, persisting 

 through ignorance of their true relation to mankind, has re- 

 sulted in relentless persecution and great diminution in the 

 numbers of this species. Extended investigation of its food 

 habits has demonstrated that the domestic fowls eaten consti- 

 tute only about 10 per cent, while mice and other rodents 

 constitute about four-fifths of the total food. 



Of 662 stomachs examined [in the Biological Survey] 54 con- 

 tained poultry or game birds; 51, other birds; 278, mice; 131, 

 other mammals; 37, batrachians and reptiles; 47, insects; 8, 

 crawfish; 13, offal; and 89 were empty.* 



The stomach of one killed near Montgomery, December 11, 

 1915, contained 80 grasshoppers. It is evident from the above 

 statements that this bird is far from being the enemy of the 

 farmer it is commonly supposed; on the contrary, it should, 

 save in exceptional cases, be considered a beneficial bird on 

 the farm. 



•Fisher, A. K., Bull. 3, Div. Ornith. snd Mamm., U. S. Dept. Agr., p. 50, 1893. 



