IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCE 
199 
POOD HABITS OP RED-TAILED HAWK, COOPER HAWK, AND 
SPARROW HAWK. 
BY FRANK C. PELLETT. 
Much has been done, during the past few years, in determining the food 
habits of the various species of birds by means of stomach examinations. With 
a sufficient number of specimens, this method should give accurate information. 
Because of the time and patience required, and the difficulties to be overcome, 
little has been done by means of personal observation of the individuals in 
the field. During the past few years, it has been a matter of considerable 
interest to me, to follow up the reports of labratory examinations of stomachs 
by personal observation, especially of the birds of prey. 
Of the red-tailed hawk. Dr. A. K. Pisher in his bulletin entitled “Hawks and 
Owls from the Standpoint of the Parmer,” says: “There is no denying that 
both it and the red shouldered hawk, also known as ‘hen hawk,’ do occasionally 
eat poultry, but the quantity is so small in comparison with the vast numbers 
of destructive rodents consumed, that it is hardly worth mentioning. While 
fully 66 per cent of the red-tail’s food consists of injurious mammals, not more 
than 7 per cent consists of poultry. * * * * Abundant proof is at hand to 
show that the red-tail greatly prefers the smaller mammals, reptiles and 
batrachians, taking little else when these can be obtained in sufficient numbers.” 
Prom March to June, 1910, I shadowed a family of red-tailed hawks in an 
effort to satisfy myself whether the continued observation of the same in- 
dividual would show results similar to the stomach examinations of numerous 
specimens. Of course in considering the value of this kind of observation, it 
should be borne in mind that birds of prey have individual peculiarities, and 
that the particular family under observation might depart from the general 
rule of the species in selecting food. It has not been possible, as yet, for me 
to continue the work by observing other families of the same species in similar 
manner. It would seem that this could be done with profit should opportunity 
offer. 
Until the parent birds began to bring food for the young, I had no means 
of ascertaining upon what they were feeding, excepting for a chance occasion. 
As soon as the young demanded attention, I found it possible to get fairly 
satisfactory information by hiding myself at a short distance from the nest. 
As the nest' was fifty feet above ground and because of the extremely shy 
disposition of the birds, I found it necessary to remain carefully concealed, it 
was sometimes impossible to determine accurately the nature of the food. 
When a small mammal was brought in, I could not tell whether it was a 
mouse or a vole; but seldom had any doubt as to whether the food was a bird 
or mammal. Apparently, the pocket gopher was brought in more often than 
any other single item of food. This was a surprise to me, because I had 
thought the underground habits of this animal protected it from birds of prey. 
The state of Iowa pays out annually thousands of dollars in bounties for the 
