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BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
second to fifth on outer webs; upper tail coverts white in all plumages. Adult male: 
Body ashy or bluish gray, streaked with white and becoming pure white on upper 
tail coverts and belly [this gull-like plumage is rarely seen]; underparts white , 
sparsely spotted with reddish brown; tail with four or six dusky bands; wings 
tipped with black, flight feathers barred; wing linings white; iris straw yellow, bill 
blackish, cere greenish or yellowish, legs and feet orange yellow. Adult female: 
Upperparts brown, in sharp contrast to white tail coverts; under parts bufTy or 
whitish, vertically streaked with brown; under wings barred. Young in juvenal 
plumage: Upperparts similar to adult female but darker brown; underparts 
rusty brown, median parts, at least, unstreaked. 
Comparisons. —See American Rough-legged Hawk, Comparisons, p. 171. 
Range. —Breeds from northeastern Siberia, northwestern Alaska, northwestern 
Mackenzie, northern Manitoba, northern Ontario, central Quebec, and Newfound¬ 
land south to Gulf coast, Mexican border and northwestern Lower California; 
winters from southern British Columbia, western Montana, western South Dakota, 
southern Wisconsin and east to New Plampshire south to Bahamas, Cuba, and 
Colombia. 
State Records. —The Marsh Hawk is one of the most common hawks in the 
State but occurs mainly in migration and in winter. It was common from the first 
of August until October 24, 1913, near Koehler Junction (Kalmbach), but in the 
main arrives from the north in the latter part of August appearing first in the higher 
districts, soon after which it becomes common throughout the whole State from the 
lowlands to the tops of the highest mountains. Some early fall records are: Rock 
Lake, Jicarilla Reservation, August 4, 1913 (Ligon); Costilla River at 10,700 feet 
August 19, 1904, and the next day in Culebra Mountains at 13,000 feet (Bailey); 
between Clayton and Sierra Grande about August 14, 1903 (Howell); one near 
Pecos August 25, 1903 (Bailey); Diamond Creek, August 24, 1908 (Birdseye); 
Mesilla, August 24, 1913 (Merrill). [In 1917 on September 4, one was seen between 
Albuquerque and Socorro; September 5 and 6, ten were seen southwest of Magdalena 
(Ligon); and they are common during migration. In the region of Gallup, in the 
northwestern part of the State, it was noted September 29 and 30, 1916 (Skinner)]; 
about the Cimarron River in the northeastern part of the State November 5, 1915, 
several were observed (Ligon); [it was taken fifty miles south of Silver City, October 
30, 1916 (Kellogg)]. 
They are most common during September and October and though most of 
the birds retire farther south for the winter a few remain at this season as far north 
as Arroyo Seco (Surbcr), and Albuquerque (Loring). Quite common, seen every 
day, near Clapham, October 27, and several seen November 5, 1893. At Perico, 
November 18, an adult male in blue plumage was seen; on December 28, 1893, 
one was caught in a wolf trap, and on January 3, 1894, one was found dead near a 
wolf bait (Seton). In the eastern foothills of the San Andres Mountains they 
remained common all the winter of 1902, when they were the most abundant of 
all the hawks (Gaut). On the Carlsbad Bird Reserve in January, 1915, they were 
the most abundant ones in the brush country of the lowlands; noted in the winter 
of 1915-16; [abundant December, 1916; and on the Rio Grande Bird Reserve noted 
twice, November 23-December 9, 1916 (Willett). On January 5-7, 1919, great 
numbers were seen between San Simon and Carlsbad (Ligon).] 
Judging from the dates of arrival in Colorado and Wyoming, the larger part of 
spring migration occurs in March and is completed in April, some individuals 
remaining to breed. [One was seen May 7, 1920, at Gray Ranch and one May 9, 
1920, at San Simon, Hidalgo County, where it was doubtless nesting (Ligon);] one 
was noted at Albuquerque, May 11, 1901 (Birtwell); and a single male was seen in 
