42 RED-SHOULDERED BUZZARD. 



I have had the tree on which the nest was placed cut down, I have observed 

 the same pair, a few days after, build another nest on a tree not far distant 

 from the spot in which the first one had been. 



The mutual attachment of the male and the female continues during; life. 

 They usually hunt in pairs during the whole year; and although they build 

 a new nest every spring, they are fond of resorting to the same parts of the 

 woods for that purpose. I knew the pair represented in the Plate for three 

 years, and saw their nest each spring placed within a few hundred yards of 

 the spot in which that of the preceding year was. 



The young remain in the nest until fully fledged, and are fed by the pa- 

 rents for several weeks after they have taken to wing, but leave them and 

 begin to shift for themselves in about a month, when they disperse and hunt 

 separately until the approach of the succeeding spring, at which time they 

 pair. The young birds acquire the rusty reddish colour of the feathers on 

 the breast and shoulders before they leave the nest. It deepens gradually at 

 the approach of autumn, and by the first spring they completely resemble the 

 old birds. Only one brood is raised each season. Scarcely any difference of 

 size exists between the sexes, the female being merely a little stouter. 



This Hawk seldom attacks any kind of poultry, and yet frequently pounces 

 on Partridges, Doves, or Wild Pigeons, as well as Red-winged Starlings, and 

 now and then very young rabbits. On one or two occasions I have seen them 

 make their appearance at the report of my gun, and try to rob me of some 

 Blue-winged Teals shot in small ponds. I have never seen them chase any 

 other small birds than those mentioned, or quadrupeds of smaller size than 

 the Cotton Rat; nor am I aware of their eating frogs, which are the com- 

 mon food of the Winter Falcon. 



Red-shouldered Hawk, Fa/co lincalus, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vi. p. 86. Young. 



Winter Falcon, Fako hyemalis, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. iv. p. 73. Adult. 



Falco hyemalis, Bonap. Syn., p. 33. 



Winter Falcon or Red-shouldered Hawk, Fako hyemalis, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 106. 



Red-shouldered Hawk, Fako Uneatus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 296; vol. v. p. 380. 



Winter Hawk, Fako hyemalis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 364. Young. 



Adult Male. 



Plumage compact, imbricated; feathers of the head and neck narrow 

 towards the tip, of the back broad and rounded; tibial feathers elongated 

 behind. Wings long, third and fourth primaries longest, first short. 



Bill light blue at the base, bluish-black at the tip; cere, basal margin of the 

 bill, edges of the eyelids, and the feet bright yellow. Iris hazel. Claws 

 black. Head, neck, and back light yellowish-red, longitudinally spotted 

 with dark brown. Tail brownish-black, banded with greyish-white, the tip 



