RED-TAILED HAWK. 
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Young. Quite similar to the adult above, hut the tail lacks the cinnamon, being light red, marked with twelve, or 
more, bands of dark-brown. Beneath, nearly white, with a slight tinge of yell- wish; no streakings on the throat or breast, 
but handed as in the adult. The tibia is not streaked but is banded in spots with dark-brown. In these two stages, the 
iris is dark-brown and feet are yellow. 
Young of the year. Not unlike t he young; darker above, especially on the tail, and shewing more reddish on the top 
cf the head. There is also a general suffusion of buff below, particularly on the breast. 
Nestlings. Are at first covered with a pale reddish down, then gradually assume the plumage last described which is 
retained for a year. In the last two stages, the iris is pale brownish-yellow and the feet are pale yellow. In all stages, 
the bill is black and the cere, greenish. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Although this species varies greatly in the West, often assuming very dark colors, it is quite constant in this respect 
in our sec:i m. The pure cinnamon-red tail is usually characteristic of the adult plumage but it is frequently barred with 
black in specimens which are fully adult. On the other hand, I am informed by Mr. William Perharn of Tyngsborough, 
who has beyound doubt handled more Hawks of this species than any one else, that he has, on several occasions, taken the 
young from the nest with perfectly red tails. Adult birds sometimes have the tibia unspotted. This species may be rec¬ 
ognized in all stages by the large size, light tints beneath, and other colors as described, together with the half feathered 
tarsus. Distributed, during summer, throughout North America; wintering south of latitude 42°. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of female specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 23-00, stretch, 47'00; wing, lO'OO; 
tail, 8 7.5; bill, 95; tarsus, 3 25. Longest specimen, 24‘00; greatest extent of wing, 50 - 00; longest wing, 17-00; tail, 9 - 50; 
bill, l’OO; tarsus, 3 00. Shortest specimen, 22 00: smallest extent of wing, 48 00; shortest wing, 15'00; tail, 8 00; bill, -90; 
tarsus, 3'50. 
Average measurements of male specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 20-50; stretch, 47'00; wing, 14-50; 
tail, 7‘50; bill, -95; tarsus, 2 95. Longest specimen, 21 00; greatest extent of wing, 48 00; longest wing, 15 00; tail, 800; 
bill, l’OO; tarsus, 2'90. Shortest specimen, 19 00; smallest extent of wing, 46 00; shortest wing, 14 00; tail, 700; bill, 00; 
tarsus, 3 05. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests , placed in trees. They are bulky structures, composed of sticks and twigs, lined with leaves, weeds, and strips 
of bark. 
Eggs , three or four in number, varying from elliptical to oval in form, bluish-white in color, spotted and blotched with 
brown and umber of varying shades. Dimensions, from 1-65x2" 10 to 1"80 x2'25. 
HABIT’S. 
Many years ago, when Florida was a wilderness and but sparsely inhabited by the 
whites, the Indians were accustomed to bum over large tracts of the piney woods in order 
to form pasture grounds for the deer. Later, the settlers followed their example and in 
the wilder portions, this is practiced at the present time. The fire not only spreads over 
the woodland but also encroaches upon the drier portions of the savannas and, as the grass 
in these latter named sections form the refuge of many small mammals as well as reptiles, 
there is a general stampede when the flames approach. Vultures and Hawks speedily be¬ 
come aware of the fact, that their prey is much more easily obtained when the fires are 
raging, and consequently flock to the vicinity in numbers. The Red-tailed Hawks are 
nearly always present upon such occasions; indeed, I do not remember of ever having seen 
a fire of any extent in Middle and Northern Florida, when there were not one or more pairs 
of these birds, circling around a short distance above the ground or plunging downward 
through the smoke (o secure some animal which was endeavoring to save its life by flight. 
The Red-tailed Hawks spend only the winter in Florida for I do not think that any 
remain to breed but, as spring approaches, they migrate northward, passing through Mass¬ 
achusetts about the first week in April. In migrating, the Red-tailed Hawks move in 
