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FAMILY — ACCIPITBIDAE. BUZZARD HAWKS, KITES, HARRIERS, BUZZARDS, 
AND EAGLES 
General Description. Hawks of various sizes, mostly easily described as being neither 
Falcons nor Ospreys. 
Distinctions. Bill (Figure 206, compare with 229) is without notches which make, as in 
the Falcons, distinct tooth-like projections to the cutting edges. The feet (especially 
under-surface) have no distinct, sharp, hard corrugations for holding slippery prey, as in 
the Ospreys or Fish Hawks. Wings are short, round, and concave except m the Kites and 
Harriers, and their flight is comparatively heavy. 
The family is composed of a number of well-marked genera, each comparatively easy 
of recognition. These comprise the bulk of our common Birds of Prey. Though truly 
raptorial in character, they have not the bold spirit, the address in attack, nor the iron 
endurance of the true “long-winged" or “noble" Falcons and hence were called “ignoble 
Hawks" by the old falconers. 
Kites 
The Kites are birds of southern distribution, and only one species 
has ever been taken in Canada. 
327. Swallow-tailed Kite. Elanoides forficatus. L, 24. A rather small Hawk 
which measures large because of the great elongation of its outer tail feathers. These 
extend 8 inches beyond the middle ones. Wings and tail pure black: all remainder, 
including head, shoulders, and upper back, white. A bird strikingly coloured in intense 
black and white, with the deeply forked tail and long pointed wings of the Bara Swallow. 
It is hardly possible to mistake this for any other species. 
Distribution. Tropical and semitropical America, appearing very rarely along our 
southern border. 
The only records for western Canada are based on a few old observa- 
tions in southern Manitoba and adjoining parts of Saskatchewan. Under 
the conditions of a former abundance, it evidently wandered north more 
frequently than it does today. 
A most beautiful species, but too rare in Canada to receive more than 
passing reference here. 
Economic Status. Its principal food is insects, snails, and reptiles; 
it never touches mammals or birds. 
Harriers 
The Harriers are long-winged, long-tailed Birds of Prey of light slender 
build and with partly feathered eye-ring somewhat suggestive of Owls. 
Their habitat is the open meadow and marsh, and mice are their principal 
prey. We have but one species in North America. 
331. Marsh Hawk, marsh harrier. Circus hudsonius. L, 19. Plate XXIV B. 
Adult male : coloured like a Gull, light slate blue above, white below, black wing tips. 
Juvenile: mostly reddish brown, striped with lighter below. Adult female: like juvenile, 
but paler and less red. 
Distinctions. A partial and incomplete feathered eye-ring merely suggestive of those 
of the Owls, is distinctive of the species. The general gull-like colours oi the adult male 
and the warm reds of the juveniles are characteristic. 
Fidd Marks. A medium-sized Hawk of long, slender build. Slighter than a Broad- 
wing, smaller than a Goshawk, and larger than Cooper’s (Figure 202 — 1). General 
coloration and the white rump which Bhows conspicuously in flight are the best field marks. 
Its long wings and tail (Figure 204) give it a somewhat falcon-like outline in flight, but 
its action is entirely different. The Marsh Hawk when soaring holds its wings decidedly 
elevated above the body instead of almost on a level with it, as do most hawks. 
