298 
HAWKS, EAGLES, AND KITES 
“Of 220 stomachs examined, 3 contained poultry; 12, other birds; 
102, mice; 40, other mammals; 20, reptiles; 39, batrachians; 92, insects; 
16, spiders; 7, crawfish; 1, earthworms; 2, offal; 3, fish; and 14 were 
empty” (Fisher). 
1894. Kennard, F. H., Auk, XI, 197-210, 270. (Biog.) 
339a. B. 1. alien! Ridgw. Florida Red-shouldered Hawk. Adults 
of this species may easily be distinguished from those of B.l. lineatus by their 
smaller size, grayish white head, with black shaft streaks and no rufous, the 
smaller fuscous tips on the scapulars and interscapulars, which do not con- 
ceal the ashy gray bases of the feathers, by the whitish or grayish cheeks 
and throat, and the ochraceous-buff, indistinctly barred underparts. Im- 
mature birds are very similar to those of B. 1 . lineatus , and can be distin- 
guished only by their smaller size and darker color. c?W., 1 1*00 ; T., 7*50; 
B., 1-20. 
Range . — S. part of Lower Austral zone and S. Atlantic and Gulf States 
from S. C. through Tex. into Tamaulipas, Mex. 
Nesting date, San Mateo, Fla., Feb. 22. 
342. Buteo swainsoni Bonap. Swainson’s Hawk. Ad. — Upper- 
parts fuscous-brown, more or less margined with rufous or buffy; primaries 
unbarred, three outer ones “notched;” tail slightly grayer than the back, 
with numerous indistinct, blackish bars showing more plainly on the under 
surface; breast covered by a large, cinnamon-rufous patch; belly white or 
ochraceous-buff, streaked, spotted, or barred with blackish, rufous, or buff. 
Ad. ? . — Similar, but larger, the’ breast patch of the same color as the back, 
cf and 9 in dark or melanistic plumage. — Entire plumage fuscous, the under 
•tail- and under wing-coverts and the tail sometimes spotted or barred. Im . — 
Upperparts fuscous-brown, widely margined with buffy and rufous; base of 
the primaries grayish, and sometimes with a few broken bars ; tail much as in 
the ad.; underparts ochraceous-buff , spotted and streaked with blackish. 
<?L., 20-00; W., 15-00; T., 8'50; B. from N., *75. 
Remarks. — Between the light and dark phases of coloration there is every 
degree of intergradation, but in any plumage this Hawk may be distinguished 
from our other species by having only three outer primaries notched. In this 
respect it agrees with B . platypterus , from which, however, it differs decidedly 
both in size and color. 
Range. — N. and S. A. Breeds from s. B. C., Fort Yukon, Alaska, nw. 
Mackenzie, and Man., s. to Chile; casual in Que., Ont., Maine, and Mass.; 
winters from S. D. southward. SE. Minn., S. R., Apl. 26. 
Nest, in trees, 30-80. feet up. Eggs, 2-3, varying from dull bluish white 
to creamy white, sometimes unmarked, but generally more or less spotted 
or blotched with shades of cinnamon-brown, 2*30 x 1’72. Date, Tom Green 
Co., Tex., Apl. 7; Dry Lake, N. D., May 12. 
Swainson’s Hawk is of rare occurrence east of the Mississippi. Dr. 
Fisher writes: “By preference it frequents the timber in the vicinity 
of streams, though often it is found far out on the prairie, where its 
only perch is the earth mound of some mammal, or some other slightly 
elevated knoll.” 
343. Buteo platypterus platypterus (Vieill.) . Broad-winged Hawk. 
Ads. — Upperparts dark grayish brown or fuscous, more or less margined 
with buffy and rufous ; three outer primaries “notched” and without ochraceous- 
buff markings; tail fuscous, with two bars and the tip grayish white; under- 
parts heavily barred with brownish ochraceous-buff. Im. — Upperparts like 
the preceding ; tail grayish brown, with three to five indistinct black bars and 
