. The common hawks and owls of California from the standpoint of the rancher . erydestructive to the smaller song and insectivorous birds. It is aboutthe size of a sparrow hawk, being from 10 to 14 inches in length andweighing from 4 to 6 ounces. Small as this species is, individualshave been seen to catch, kill, and try to carry off a valley quail weigh- b UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION ing 5% ounces, or practically as much as the hawk itself. The Cooperand sharp-shinned hawks are not protected by law and may be killedat any time. In most parts of California, the latter is presen
. The common hawks and owls of California from the standpoint of the rancher . erydestructive to the smaller song and insectivorous birds. It is aboutthe size of a sparrow hawk, being from 10 to 14 inches in length andweighing from 4 to 6 ounces. Small as this species is, individualshave been seen to catch, kill, and try to carry off a valley quail weigh- b UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION ing 5% ounces, or practically as much as the hawk itself. The Cooperand sharp-shinned hawks are not protected by law and may be killedat any time. In most parts of California, the latter is present chieflyor only as a winter visitor. The western goshawk is the third and largest species of bird hawk,the sharp-shinned being the smallest. This hawk is from 22 to 24y2inches long and weighs 2 pounds, and is therefore large enough tocarry off good-sized chickens and grouse. It is, in fact, very destruc-tive. The species has been known to breed in the mountains in thenortheastern part of the state, but elsewhere in California it may beconsidered only a rare winter Fig. 3.—A prairie falcon; a long-winged chaser in flight. The meado%v haunting hawks have but one common representa-tive in California. This bird, the marsh or mouse hawk, appearsto be of large size, because of its length, from 20 to 24 inches, com-bined with long pointed wings. Adult individuals, however, oftenweigh less than one pound, or about one-half as much as other hawksof the same apparent size. The marsh hawk beats back and forthover meadow and open grassland keeping close to the ground anddipping down now and then to snatch up some small rodent, takenby surprise. In the field this species is easily told by the white rumppatch and, at close range, by the owl-like ruff of feathers about itseyes. This is our only species of hawk which habitually nests on theground in marshy places. This hawk rarely touches poultry. Itsfood consists largely of meadow mice and gophers. The wise farmerwill therefore p
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