THE MARSH HAWK. 183 



64. Circus hudsonius (Linnaeus). 



MARSH HAWK. 



Falco hudsonius LinNjEUS, Systema Naturae, ed. 12, 1, 1766, 128. 

 Circus hudsonius Vieillot, Oiseaux, Amerique Septentrionale. 1, 1807, PI. 9. 



(B 38, C 333, R 430, C 489, U 331.) 



Geographical range : North America in general,' south in winter to Panama, 

 Bahamas, and Cuba. 



The Marsh Hawk, also called the Harrier and Mouse Hawk, is one of 

 the best known of the Raptores found within the limits of the United States. 



Its breeding range extends over nearly the entire North American con- 

 tinent. In portions of the South Atlantic States it must, however, be con- 

 sidered as a rather rare summer resident, and in certain sections of this 

 region, like the Piedmont hill country of South Carolina, according to Dr. 

 Leverett M. Loomis, it does not breed at all, and I think the same remarks 

 apply to the greater part of Florida, where only a few remain during the 

 summer, principally in the northern parts of the State. It is a fairly com- 

 mon summer visitor in the Arctic regions, and east of the Rocky Mountains 

 winters regularly as far north as latitude 39°, while on the Pacific coast I 

 have found a few remaining in latitude 46°. It is likely, however, that these 

 birds bred farther north and wintered here, and that the actual summer 

 residents migrated south, and were, to a certain extent, replaced by these 

 visitors from colder regions. 



The Marsh Hawk is easily recognized by the conspicuous white patch at 

 the base of its long tail, and its great stretch of wing, while flying, makes it 

 appear a much larger bird than it really is. In the South Atlantic States 

 it is by no means as common during the breeding season as in the more 

 northern portions of its range. 



On the extensive prairies of the West, it is a familiar sight to see a pair, 

 and often several, of these birds skimming close to the ground, now along 

 the borders of a meadow, or the shrubbery found close to the banks of small 

 streams, and the tule covered borders of fresh or salt water marshes, actively 

 engaged in search of their prey. From the fact that even in winter one 

 frequently sees pairs of these birds hunting in company as often as singly, 

 I am inclined to believe that many remain mated throughout the year. 



Its flight is singularly easy and graceful. One moment it may be seen 

 sailing or drifting along before a strong breeze without an apparent move- 

 ment of its wings, in the next it may raise or lower itself or turn completely 

 over, in undulating motions; dropping suddenly in the grass, or staying sus- 

 pended in the air over some point which might be suited to the location of 

 its intended quarry. 



Its food consists principally of meadow mice, small ground squirrels, and 

 other rodents, frogs, grasshoppers, locusts, and, in portions of the West, the 



