126 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA . 
female, who now seeks safety in flight as distant as her wing's will carry 
her. I have seen this hawk sail without a quiver of its pinions, until 
within seizing distance of its quarry, and suddenly throw its wings back, 
when with a clash they came together, and the vicinity was filled with 
white feathers, floating peacefully through the air. I secured both birds, 
and found the entire side of the Ptarmigan ripped open. 
“ On another occasion I shot a fine individual as it rose from a small 
clump of willow, to which I had approached unobserved by the bird. 
It had been devouring a Ptarmigan, which it had secured but a little 
while before. The flesh of the bird was yet warm, though nearly all 
devoured. The Goshawk was only wing-tipped with shot and proved 
to be quite vicious, seizing my boot with its talons and striving to grasp 
my hand with its beak. The bird was so quick that I had to call the 
assistance of a native to detach the claws from my clothing. Upon 
skinning the bird I found its crop to be full of the flesh of the bird it 
was eating when I flushed it. I am under the impression that the Gos¬ 
hawk is not able to fly with the weight of a Ptarmigan in its claws. It 
is a resident of the interior and comes to the coast quite early in spring. ” 
Genus BUTEO* * Cuvier 
Buteo borealis (Gmel.). 
Red-tailed Hawk. 
Description ( Plate 15). 
The adult is easily recognized by the red tail. The tail in young birds is usually 
ashy-brown, with about ten darker bands. Tail in both old and young is generally 
* Birds of this genius, especially borealis and lineatus are the large hawks which we see, particularly in 
the late fall, winter and early spring, frequenting grassy fields, meadows, swamps, etc. These birds are 
the common • * hen hawks ” or “ chicken hawks” as they are usually called ; but such names are highly 
inappropriate, as a very small percentage of their food is poultry. Three species (especially borealis and 
lineatus ) are common residents in Pennsylvania. In order to give a clear idea of the great benefits these 
• ‘ hen hawks ” render the agriculturist and fruit grower, the following extracts, relating to the stomach 
contents of over four hundred, captured during all seasons of the year, in various parts of the United 
States, are taken from Dr. Fisher’s report (Food of hawks and owls, by Dr. A. K. Fisher, assistant or¬ 
nithologist. Annual report of U. S. Dept. Agr., Washington, D. C., 1887); Red-tailed Hawk (B. borea¬ 
lis): Of 311 stomachs examined. 29 contained poultry or game birds; 35 other birds; 203, mice; 55, other 
mammals; 9, batrachians or reptiles; 24, insects; 3, craw-fish; 4. offal; and 29 were empty. Twohundred 
and ten examined by the division contained 270 mice. Red-shouldered Hawk (B. lineatus): Of 102 stom¬ 
achs examined, 1 contained poultry; 5, other birds; 61, mice; 20. other mammals; 15, reptiles or batrachi¬ 
ans; 40. insects; 7, spiders; 3, crawfish; 1, earthworm; 1, offal; 1, catfish; and 3 were empty. Broad- 
winged Hawk ( B . latissimus): Of 22 stomachs examined. 2 contained small birds; 3, mice; 5, other mam¬ 
mals; 8 reptiles or batrachians; 10, insects; and 1, earthworms. The mammals mentioned here refer 
mostly to mice, shrew, moles, some few squirrels and a few other kinds of quadrupeds. These hawks in 
form are stout and heavy; the wings long, wide and somewhat pointed; third, fourth and fifth quills longest, 
the first shorter than eighth, the three outer primaries in latissimus emarginate on innerwebs, and in borealis 
and lineatus the four outer quills emarginate on inner webs. The moderately long tail, conspicuously barred 
or highly colored, is quite broad and slightly rounded; the bluish-black bill is short, wide at base, and max¬ 
illa is lobedon edges. Legs and feet stout; tarsus feathered in front about third of length; thighs have 
long feathers that in some individuals reach nearly to the feet. Tarsi yellowish; cere yellowish or green¬ 
ish; the eyes vary greatly, but are usually brown or yellow. Sexes similar in color; female larger than 
male: immature birds differ greatly from the adults. The flight of these hawks is quite vigorous, andthat 
of borealis, in particular, is often long continued; but they do not fly with the great rapidity of species of 
the genus Acciviter. 
