40 RED-SHOULDERED BUZZARD. 



Falco Harlani, Aud. Birds of America, pi. 136. 



Plumage compact, feathers of the head and neck short and rounded, tibial 

 feathers elongated and loose at the tips. Wings long; first quill short, fourth 

 longest, third and fifth equal, the first primaries cut out on the inner web 

 towards the end. Tail longish, ample, of twelve broad, rounded feathers. 



Bill light blue, black towards the end; cere and angles of the mouth yel- 

 lowish-green. Iris light yellowish-brown. Feet dull greenish-yellow, claws 

 black. 



The general colour of the plumage is deep chocolate-brown, the under 

 parts lighter, the feathers there being margined with light brown. Tail 

 lighter than the back, and rather narrowly barred with brownish-black, the 

 tips brownish-red. Under wing-coverts whitish, spotted with deep brown. 



Length 21 inches; extent of wings 45; bill along the back 1^, along the 

 gap, from the tip of the lower mandible, 1^; tarsus If. 



RED-SHOULDERED BUZZARD. 



-■ Buteo Lixeatcs, Gmel. 

 PLATE IX.— Male and Female. 



The Red-shouldered Hawk, although dispersed over the greater part of 

 the United States, is rarely observed in the Middle Districts, where, on the 

 contrary, the Winter Falcon usually makes its appearance from the north, at 

 the approach of every autumn, and is of more common occurrence. Ken- 

 tucky, Tennessee, and other Western States, with the most Southern Dis- 

 tricts of our L" nion, are apparently best adapted for the constant residence of 

 the Red-shouldered Hawk, as in all these latter districts it is met with in 

 greater numbers than in any other. 



This bird is one of the most noisy of its genus, during spring especially, 

 when it would be difficult to approach the skirts of woods bordering a large 

 plantation without hearing its discordant shrill notes, ka-hee, ka-hee, as it is 

 seen sailing in rapid circles at a very great elevation. Its ordinary flight is 

 even and protracted, excepting when it is describing the circles just mention- 

 ed, when it often dives and gambols. It is a more general inhabitant of the 

 woods than most of our other species, particularly during the summer, and 

 in autumn and winter; now and then only, in early spring, shewing itself in 



