HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES: MEXICAN GOSHAWK 175 
acres, perched on posts, hillocks, and bare ground (in Chambers, 1921, 
p. 65). Three years later, on August 28, 1923, another impressive 
migration flight was witnessed, within two miles of that recorded before 
(in Chambers, 1924, p. 75). 
MEXICAN GOSHAWK: Asturina plagiata Schlegel 
Plate 9 
Description. — Length: About 16-18 inches, wing 9.5-11.7, tail 6.7-8.2, bill 
.7-1, tarsus 2.5-2.8. Proportions of Buteo but coloration of Astur. Four outer 
quills cut out on inner webs. Adults: Upper parts ash-gray, top of head and back 
of neck with fine blackish shaft streaks; upper tail coverts white, tail black, tipped 
with gray or white and crossed by two or three narrow white bands; wing quills 
black, tipped with whitish; wing linings white, barred with ashy; under parts closely 
cross-barred with gray and white except on throat and crissum; iris brown; bill black¬ 
ish, cere, legs and feet bright yellow. Young: Blackish brown above, variegated 
with reddish buff, upper tail coverts spotted with blackish; tail dark brown, with nu¬ 
merous narrow blackish bars; white below, marked with black. 
Range. —Southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and Lower Rio Grande 
Valley south to Costa Rica; winters south of United States. 
State Records. —Two sets of eggs of the Mexican Goshawk were found April 
23, 1876, near Fort Bayard, New Mexico, by Frank Stephens, who had noted the 
birds as common a few miles to the westward in Arizona. This is the only record 
of the species for New Mexico, where it is a summer resident.—W. W. Cooke. 
Nest— Usually in high trees; made of leafy twigs, lined with dry leaves and 
strips of bark. Eggs: Generally 2, pale bluish white, unspotted or with a few 
indistinct buffy spots. 
Food. —Chiefly mice but many birds; also ground squirrels, lizards, fish, beetles, 
grasshoppers, and other insects. 
General Habits. —Near Tucson Major Bendire found “ two or three 
pairs of these handsome little Mexican Goshawks, which were readily 
recognized by their light color, engaged in sailing gracefully over the 
tree tops.” He says they seem to be found only in the vicinity of water¬ 
courses (1892, p. 252). 
MEXICAN BLACK HAWK: Morphnus anthracinus (Lichtenstein) 
Plate 9 
Description. — Male: Length about 21.5 inches, wing 13.1-14.9, tail 7.9-9.7, 
bill 1, tarsus 3.2-3.4. Female: Length 20-22.5, wing 14.2-16, tail 9.2-11, 
bill 1-1.1, tarsus 3-3.5. Wing with four quills cut out on inner webs. Adults: 
Coat black, except for tail which has white-tipped coverts, white base, tip, and 
broad median band; bill blackish, cere, legs and feet, yellow. Young: Upperparts 
brownish black, varied with rusty or yellowish brown markings, gradually obliter¬ 
ated as the bird matures; tail with about seven narrow oblique bands; head, neck, 
and underparts yellowish brown, striped with blackish, thighs barred; iris brown 
bill mainly black, cere, legs and feet yellow. 
Range. —Lower Sonoran Zone in southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Lower 
Rio Grande Valley south through Mexico and Central America to Peru and Para¬ 
guay. 
