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Range (Breeds from middle Florida)
Breeds from middle Florida southward to the Argentine Republic. Nest, in bushes, among reeds or tall grasses. Eggs, two to three, pale bluish white, heavily spotted, blotched, or washed with cinnamon or chocolate, 1.85 x 1.47.
This species is a summer resident in southern Florida. It arrives from the south in February. Mr. W. E. D. Scott writes of it as observed at Lake Panasofkee, Florida: "Their food at this point apparently consists of a kind of large, fresh-water snail, which is very abundant, and the local name of 'Snail-Hawk' is particularly applicable to this bird as I have met with it. They fish over the shallow water, reminding one of Gulls in their motions; and having secured a snail by diving, they immediately carry it to the nearest available perch, where the animal is dexterously taken from the shell without injury to the latter" (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, vi, 1881, p. 16). 331. Circus hudsonius (Linn.). MARSH HAWK; HARRIER. Ad. 8.- Upper parts gray or ashy; upper tail-coverts white; tail silvery gray, irregularly barred or marked with blackish; upper breast pearl-gray; the lower breast and belly white, spotted or barred with rufous. Ad. 2.- Upper parts fuscous, the head and neck streaked, and the wing-coverts spotted or margined with rufous; longer upper tail-coverts white; middle tail-feathers barred with ashy and black, others barred with ochraceous-buff and black; under parts ochraceous-buff, widely streaked on the breast and narrowly streaked on the belly with fuscous or light umber. Im.-Similar to the, but somewhat darker above; the under parts darker, almost rufous; the belly without streaks. & L., 19.00; W., 13·75; T., 9.00; B. from N., 60. L., 22.00; W., 15.00; T., 10.00.
Range.-North America in general, south to Panama.
Washington, common W. V., July to Apl. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. R., Mch. 6 to Oct. 30; a few winter. Cambridge, common T. V., Mch. 15 to Apl. 15; Sept. and Oct.; a few breed.
Nest, on the ground, in marshes. Eggs, four to six, dull white or pale bluish white, 1.75 x 1.40.
This Hawk is essentially a bird of the unwooded country, and we might as well look for a Grouse in the open marsh as for a Harrier in the thick woods. It flies low, and may be easily identified by the large FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. white patch on its rump. Quartering the country with slow, vacillating flight, it usually captures its living prey by surprising it away from its retreats.
The Harrier is a low-perching Hawk, and most frequently will be seen alighting on a slight elevation or in the grass. During the nesting season the male may be seen endeavoring to win the admiration of the principal spectator by performing a number of extraordinary aërial evolutions. Sometimes he soars to a great height, then falls straight downward nearly to the ground, turning several somersaults during the descent, and uttering at the same time a reiterated screeching. At other times he flies across the marsh in a course which would outline a gigantic saw, each of the descending parts being done in a somersault and accompanied by the screeching notes, which form the only love song within the range of his limited vocal powers. ERNEST E. THOMPSON. "Of 124 stomachs examined, 7 contained poultry, or game birds; 34, other birds; 57, mice; 22, other mammals; 7, reptiles; 2, frogs; 14, insects; 1, indeterminate matter, and 8 were empty" (Fisher). 332. Accipiter velox (Wils.). SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Ad.-Upper parts slaty gray; primaries barred with blackish; tail nearly square, ashy gray, with blackish cross-bars and a whitish tip; throat white, streaked with blackish; rest of under parts barred with white and ochraceous-buff or pale rufous. Im.- Upper parts fuscous, margined with rufous; primaries and tail much as in the ad.; under parts white or buffy white, streaked or spotted with blackish or pale rufous-brown. ♂ L., 11.25; W., 6.60; T., 5.50; B. from N., 22 FIG. 67. Square tail of Sharpshinned Hawk. 40.
L., 13.50; W., 8.00; T., 7.00.