. The common hawks and owls of California from the standpoint of the rancher . nt 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 pr
. The common hawks and owls of California from the standpoint of the rancher . nt 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 protect it on his premises at all times. Circular 236 COMMON HAWKS AND OWLS OF CALIFORNIA The falcons, or long-winged chasers (see fig. 3), are representedby four species: prairie falcon, duck hawk, pigeon hawk, and sparrowhawk. The falcons can always be told in the hand by their having atooth-like projection near the middle of each cutting edge of theupper half of the bill (see fig. 4). In all the other hawks this partof the bill is even, without tooth or notch (see fig. 5).. Fig. 4.—The falcons can always be distinguished by the tooth-like projectionon each cutting edge of the upper half of the bill. The prairie falcon and duck hawk are often called bullet hawkson account of their rapid flight and method of stooping or divingat their prey. These noble hawks are the most sportsmanlike ofall the birds of prey, since they frequently capture their quarry infair chase by reason of their superior speed. The prairie falcon(see fig. 6) has a length of from 17 to 20 inches, and is found chieflyin the semi-arid interior valleys; the duck hawk, slightly largerand darker, is found more commonly along the coast. Both of theselarge falcons have conspicuous black mustaches or stripes on thesides of their heads. Both species nest in niches or potholes on ruggedcliffs. No nest is made, the eggs being laid on the bare sand whichcovers the bottom of the cavity. These large falcons do not ordina
Size: 2249px × 1111px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthordixonjos, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookyear1922
