. . the tops ofgigantic redwood and pine trees that were not less than onehundred feet above the base of the tree. Several species oftrees are acceptable to this hawk as a place for its home,and it has also been known to build its nest in a species ofgigantic cactus. When suitable trees are not to be found,the western red-tail is equal to the emergency and will occa-sionally be satisfied with a cliff or the sides of a perpen-dicular bluff upon which to construct its home. Though this species does occasionally attack poultry andother
. . the tops ofgigantic redwood and pine trees that were not less than onehundred feet above the base of the tree. Several species oftrees are acceptable to this hawk as a place for its home,and it has also been known to build its nest in a species ofgigantic cactus. When suitable trees are not to be found,the western red-tail is equal to the emergency and will occa-sionally be satisfied with a cliff or the sides of a perpen-dicular bluff upon which to construct its home. Though this species does occasionally attack poultry andother birds, the name hen hawk should never be appliedto it. The number of domestic fowls and wild birds that itdestroys is very small when compared with the large num-ber of the noxious smaller mammals and grasshopperswhich it kills. When grasshoppers are common they formthis hawks chief article of diet during the months of latesummer and early autumn. The western red-tail is a friendto the agriculturist, and is a worthy object of his apprecia-tion and RED-SHi HAWK , LiJi BIRDS OF PREY 198 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK The Red-shouldered Hawk, often miscalled ChickenHawk or Hen Hawk, is probably the commonest raptorin the eastern United States. The note is different fromthat of our other hawks, being the one the blue jay enjoysmimicking so well, thereby having a little fun at the expenseof the other birds. It is larger than any other commonhawk except the red-tail. The red-shouldered hawk ispartly migratory, arriving in the Middle States and GreatLakes region late in March. Its range is eastern XorthAmerica, north to Xova Scotia and Manitoba; residentalmost throughout the range. The principal food consistsof small rodents, snakes, sometimes a bird, but seldom achicken, so it is decidedly a benefit to the farmer, because ofits destruction of mice and ground squirrels. The birds are partial to a given locality, returning yearafter year to the same piece of woods, and laying a secon
Size: 1512px × 1652px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectnaturalhistory, booky
