FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 
157 
desert regions of western Texas, southern New Mexico, and Arizona, 
it is not infrequently met with at long distances from water, and 
has even been found breeding in such localities. . . . It is one of the 
earliest migrants to return to its breeding grounds, arriving about 
the latter part of February or the first week in March, and is readily 
noticed then, both on account of its size and its shrill squeals, 
uttered during the greater part of the day while circling high in the 
air, in proximity to its future summer home. They appear to be 
very much attached to certain localities and return to them from 
year to year. ... In Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California it 
lives principally on the different species of ground squirrels so com¬ 
mon and destructive in these states.” (Bendire.) 
Mr. Grinnell says that this hawk, in common with other species, is 
popularly known as henhawk or chickenhawk and is relentlessly 
killed wherever chance is offered, and he adds that he attributes the 
great local increase in ground squirrels in part at least to the destruc¬ 
tion of hawks and owls. 
339b. Buteo lineatus elegans (Cass.). Red-bellied Hawk. 
Adults. — Under parts bright reddish brown, usually plain across breast, 
lightly barred with white below ; upper parts dark brown, streaked with 
white or rusty yellowish brown; shoulders reddish brown ; wings and tail 
banded with white. Young: spots of buffy or yellowish brown on outer 
webs of wing quills. Male : wing 12.00-12.50, tail 8-9, bill .78. Female : 
wing 13, tail 9.50, bill .90. 
Distribution. — From British Columbia south to Lower California and 
northern Mexico; and from western Texas to the Pacific. 
Nest. — Of twigs or sagebrush lined with leaves, pine needles, inner 
bark, and feathers ; placed in trees and giant cactus. Eggs: 2 to 5, white, 
marked lightly with lavender and brown. 
Food. — Lizards, frogs, grubs, and insects; and sometimes small birds. 
The red-bellied hawk usually makes its home in trees along river 
banks, especially in oak and willow regions, where it may be seen 
moving with a heavy flight suggestive of the owls. 
In speaking of its food habits, Mr. Lyman Belding says that he 
once shot one of a pair that had for three years nested less than two 
hundred yards from a poultry yard, and on examination of its 
stomach found only small lizards, tree-frogs, grubs, and insects. 
When disturbed at its nest, Major Bendire says, the red-bellied 
gives a shrill yee-ak , yee-ak, repeated rapidly in a high key. 
340. Buteo abbreviatus Cab. Zone-tailed Hawk. 
Adults. — Whole bird uniform black or blackish brown, feathers pure 
white at bases; tail crossed by three broad lighter zones , which are gray on 
outer and white on inner webs of feathers. Young: tail dark grayish 
brown instead of black, inner webs sometimes entirely white ; crossed by 
numerous black narrow oblique lines. Male: length 18.50-19.60, extent 
49.50, wing 15.00-15.60, tail 8.50-9.15. Female : length 20.85-21.50, extent 
53.10, wing 16.50-17.40, tail 9.00-10.75, bill .90-1.00. 
