Part 25

These birds are darker in color than the Red-shouldered Hawk of the East, and in their habits very much resemble the Red-tail; for food they prefer the large variety of small rodents and rarely disturb poultry or birds. The under parts are a bright reddish brown, without bars. They may be found covering the same territory as the Red-tail on the Pacific Coast west of the Rockies from British Columbia south to Lower California.

Nest.—Is made of twigs lined with rootlets and leaves and feathers. They lay from two to four eggs of a white color spotted and blotched all over with a light shade of brown and lilac (2.15 × 1.75).

ZONE-TAILED HAWK. 340. Buteo abbreviatus. 19 inches.

This whole bird is black, with the exception of the tail, which has three wide bands of white and the ends of the tail feathers tipped with white. Like others of the Buteo family they feed almost entirely on the small rodents, which they find in abundance in the marsh and prairie, or in the low brush. Eggs, two to four, white, faintly spotted with light chestnut (2.15 × 1.75).

SWAINSON HAWK. 342. Buteo swainsoni. 20 inches.

Their plumage is extremely variable, having all of the intergradations from a sooty blackish to the typical bluish gray above, and white below, with breast a rich chestnut color. Their habits are nearly as variable as their plumage. In some localities they nest wholly in trees; in others upon the ground or on rocky ledges. They seem to prefer, though, the low open lands covered with sage bush, where their food consists almost wholly of the small rodents; squirrels; mice and grasshoppers, the latter being eaten in large numbers.

Nest.—Is made similar to others of the family, laying two to four white eggs, splashed and spotted with various shades of brown, usually more about the larger end (2.20 × 1.70).

Range.—Western North America, from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean, and Hudson Bay to southern California.

MEXICAN GOSHAWK. 346. Asturina plagiata. 17 inches.

Found in the southern borders of the United States and Mexico. These are graceful and active birds, feeding largely on small rodents.

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. 347a. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. 21 inches.

These are large, heavily built birds of prey, specially characterized by the completely feathered legs to the feet; in the normal plumage has a whitish head, neck, breast and tail, the former being streaked and the latter barred with blackish; remainder of upper and under parts, blackish brown. Eyes brown. In the dark phase they are blackish brown, more or less mixed with rusty, the tail remaining the same as in the light plumage.

Nest.—Is made of sticks and smaller twigs, lined with leaves and moss, placed in trees or more often on ledges. They lay three or four bluish white eggs, boldly blotched with different shades of brown, oftener about the larger end (2.25 × 1.75).

FERRUGINOUS ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. 348. Archibuteo ferrugineus. 23 inches.

These are very much more of a reddish brown color than the last, on the back; head and breast is whiter, with fewer markings. Legs the same, feathered to the feet. It is much more abundant than the last and is a western bird wholly, breeding on the ledges, where its eggs are laid.

GOLDEN EAGLE. 349. Aquila chrysætos. 35 inches.

These may be distinguished from the Bald Eagle in all plumages by the completely feathered tarsus. Plumage blackish brown, adults having the lanceolate feathers on the neck of a golden brown color, and the tail more or less mixed with white.

Nest.—These are made up of large sticks, lined with smaller ones and moss, leaves and weeds, building quite a bulky affair. Their two or three eggs are very handsome, being white, speckled and spotted with shades of brown, and clouded with gray and lilac. They vary greatly in their markings (2.90 × 2.50).

Range.—West of the Mississippi, being most abundant in the Rockies and along the Pacific coast ranges.

BALD EAGLE. 352. Haliætus leucocephalus. 34 inches.

In the adult birds, the white head and tail will always identify them, but in the first and second year they are a brownish black, the second year showing traces of the white on head and tail. They are found throughout the United States. Their food consists largely of fish.

GRAY GYRFALCON. 354. Falco rusticolus. 23 inches.

These are birds of the Arctic regions and are rarely taken in the United States even in winter.

Nest.—They build upon the ledges of high cliffs, laying three or four eggs of a buffy color, marked with fine spots and blotches of shades of brown.

PRAIRIE FALCON. 355. Falco mexicanus. 18 inches.

This is quite an abundant species in some localities, and like the Duck Hawk in many ways is one of the most graceful, fearless and swiftest of the Falcons. A blackish patch on the sides of the throat; upper parts brownish with darker markings; under parts white, streaked with brown, much heavier on the flanks. Throat, clear white.

Nest.—Is generally placed on rocky ledges and cliffs, and sometimes in trees. Their nests are made of sticks lined with weeds and grass; three or four eggs of a reddish buff color, thickly blotched and sprinkled all over with reddish brown (2.05 × 1.60).

Range.—West of the Mississippi and from Dakota and Washington south to Mexico. Their food is mostly rodents secured on the prairies.