The Western Red-tailed Hawk 



fold his wings, and do the cata- 

 pult act with all the skill and 

 dash of a Falcon. When last 

 seen, the Hawk had tired of the 

 sport, and was soaring a thou- 

 sand feet above the mountain. 

 Bring on your Eagles! 



A drawn battle with a mem- 

 ber of its own species may be a 

 more serious matter. Mr. Henry 

 W. Marsden reports 1 an in- 

 stance where two male Redtails 

 engaged so violently that they 

 fell presently to the earth, and 

 were seized by a passerby before 

 they could recover their wits, 

 or get the blood mists out of 

 their eyes. 



Western Redtails nest in- 

 differently in trees or upon 

 cliffs, but they are studied to 

 best advantage when the situ- 

 ation allows approach from 

 above. The nest is a very sub- 

 stantial edifice of sticks and 

 twigs, lined with frayed bark 

 and, usually, a spray of fresh 

 greenery. If it is a cliff nest, the 

 Redtails exhibit some sagacity 

 in placing it beyond the reach 

 of coyotes and raccoons ; and the 

 choice of such a romantic situ- 

 ation raises the bird several de- 

 grees in the estimation of one 



who has known it heretofore only as a tree-dweller. The birds, as likely 

 as not, betray their anxiety by sending down from some far height a strong, 

 petulant kee aaay. If the nest is approached, interest becomes frenzy, 

 and the Hawks either swoop toward the intruder repeatedly, or flap rest- 

 lessly to and fro, uttering their agonized cries. At other times the Hawks 

 discuss the situation in sharp notes of a shriller tone, keeak', keeak', keeak' . 



The eggs, two or three, or very rarely four in number, are of a dull 



Taken in Arizona 



ACTION 



Photo by the Author 



1 Condor. Vol. VII., p. 53. 



l68l 



