the nape; it is about 15 inches in length. They nest abundantly on the
mountain ranges, sometimes in large flocks, and again, only a few pairs
together. Their nests are rude platforms of sticks and twigs either in
bushes or in large trees in heavily wooded districts. The two eggs which
are laid during May or June are pure white in color, and like those of
all the pigeons, equally rounded at each end. Size 1.55 × 1.10.
312a. VIOSCA'S PIGEON. _Columba fasciata vioscæ._
Range.--Southern Lower California. This is a paler variety of the
preceding species and is not noticeably different in its habits, nesting
or eggs.
313. RED-BILLED PIGEON. _Columba flavirostris._
Range.--Mexico and Central America, north to southern Texas, Arizona and
New Mexico.
This species, characterized by its red bill, purplish colored head, neck
and breast and absence of iridescent markings, is abundant in the valley
of the Lower Rio Grande, where they build their frail nests in thickets
and low bushes, and during May and June lay their white eggs. Size of
eggs, 1.55 × 1.05.
314. WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON. _Columba leucocephala._
Range.--Resident of the West Indies; in summer, found on the Florida
Keys. This species, which can be identified by its white crown, nests in
trees or mangroves on certain of the Florida Keys, laying its two white
eggs on its rude platform of sticks and twigs. Size of eggs 1.40 × 1.05.
Nests in April and May.
314.1. SCALED PIGEON. _Columba squamosa._
A West Indian species, a single specimen of which was taken at Key West,
Florida.
A dark colored species, with purplish head, neck and breast; named from
the scaly appearance of the iridescent feathers on the sides of the
neck.
[Illustration 194: White.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 193
315. PASSENGER PIGEON. _Ectopistes migratorius._
Range.--Formerly, North America east of the Rockies; casually seen in
the upper Mississippi Valley, now extinct.
A handsome species (see frontispiece) with ruddy underparts, grayish
upperparts and a long graduated tail. This species years ago found in
flocks of thousands or millions, is now practically exterminated,
chiefly by being hunted and trapped. A few pairs probably now nest in
the interior, from northern United States to Hudson Bay. Their nests are
very rude, frail platforms of twigs, on which two white eggs are laid,
they being longer and narrower, comparatively, than those of other
species. Size of eggs, 1.50 × 1.02. Data.--Southwest shore of Lake
Manitoba, June 1, 1891. Nest of twigs in an aspen tree.
316. Mourning Dove. _Zenaidura macroura carolinensis._
Range.--North America from New England, Manitoba and British Columbia,
southward.
Now that the Passenger Pigeon has disappeared, this species becomes the
only one found in the east, with the exception of the little Ground Dove
in the South Atlantic and Gulf States. While, sometimes, small flocks of
them nest in a community, they generally nest in companies of two or
three pairs. Their nests are generally at a low elevation, in trees,
bushes and often upon the ground. Their nests are made entirely of twigs
and rootlets, and eggs may be found from early in April until the latter
part of September, as they often raise two or three broods a season. The
two eggs are white. Size 1.15 × .80. Data.--Refugio Co., Texas, May 3,
1899. Two eggs laid on the ground in a slight cradle of twigs.
Collector, James J. Carroll.
[Illustration 195: White.]
[Illustration: Passenger Pigeon.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Mourning Dove.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 194
317. ZENAIDA DOVE. _Zenaida zenaida._
Range.--West Indies; in summer, on the Florida Keys, but not in great
numbers.
This species is similar in size to the Mourning Dove, but it has a short
and square tail, and the secondaries are tipped with white, and the
underparts more ruddy. They generally nest upon the ground, but
occasionally in small bushes, laying two white eggs a trifle larger than
those of the preceding species. Size 1.20 × .90. The nests are made of
grasses and twigs, on the ground under bushes.
[Illustration 196: NEST AND EGGS OF MOURNING DOVE. H. B. Stough.]
[Illustration.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 195
318. WHITE-FRONTED DOVE. _Leptotila fulviventris brachyptera._
Range.--Mexico and Central America north to southern Texas.
Slightly larger than the last, much paler below, with no black ear mark
as in the two preceding species, and with the forehead whitish. They
build their nests of sticks, grasses and weeds, and place them in
tangled vines and thickets a few feet from the ground. Their two eggs,
which are laid in May and June, have a creamy white or buffy color. Size
1.15 × .85. They cannot be called a common species within our borders.
319. WHITE-WINGED DOVE. _Melopelia asiatica._
Range.--Central America, Mexico and the southwestern border of the
United States.
This species is 12 inches in length, has a black patch on the ear
coverts, white tips to the greater and lesser coverts and some of the
secondaries, and broad white tips to the outer tail feathers, which are
black. This species is very abundant in some localities within our
borders. Their nests are very frail platforms of twigs placed in trees
or bushes or precariously suspended among tangled vines. Their two eggs
are white or creamy white, and measure 1.15 × .85.
320. GROUND DOVE. _Columbigallina passerina terrestris._
Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States to eastern Texas.
The Ground Doves are the smallest of the family, measuring but about 6.5
inches in length. Their nesting habits and eggs are exactly like those
of the next to be described. They are very abundant, especially along
the South Atlantic coast.
320a. MEXICAN GROUND DOVE. _Chæmepelia passerinus pallescens._
Range.--Border of the United States from Texas to southern California
and southward.
This paler sub-species builds a nest of twigs and weeds, placing the
flat structure either in low bushes or on the ground. Their two white
eggs are laid during April to July, they sometimes rearing two broods a
season. Size of eggs, .85 × .65.
320b. BERMUDA GROUND DOVE. _Chæmepelia passerina bermudiana._
Range.--Bermuda. Smaller and paler than the last; otherwise the same in
nesting habits and eggs.
[Illustration: White-fronted Dove. White-winged Dove.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 196
321. INCA DOVE. _Scardafella inca._
Range.--Mexican border of the United States south to Central America and
Lower California.
This handsome species is about the size of the last, but its tail is
longer and graduated, consequently its length is greater, it being about
8 inches long. It is not an uncommon species along our Mexican border,
but is not nearly as abundant as is the Ground Dove. It is often called
"Scaled Dove" because of the blackish edges of nearly all its feathers.
They build fairly compact nests of twigs, rootlets and weeds, these
being placed in bushes at a low elevation. They are two in number and
pure white. Size .85 × .65.
322. KEY WEST QUAIL DOVE. _Geotrygon chrysia._
Range.--West Indies, rarely found at Key West, although supposed to have
been common there in Audubon's time. This species is of about the size
of the Mourning Dove, has rusty colored upper parts, and is whitish
below, the white below the eye being separated from that of the throat
by a stripe of dusky from the base of the bill. They nest in trees,
laying two buffy white eggs. Size 1.15 × .9O.
322.1. RUDDY QUAIL DOVE. _Geotrygon montana._
Range.--Central America, north to eastern Mexico and the West Indies;
once taken at Key West. This species is similar to the last but has no
white streak under the eye, and the underparts are buffy. Eggs, creamy
white. Size 1.15 × .90.
323. BLUE-HEADED QUAIL DOVE. _Starnoenas cyanocephala._
Range.--Cuba, accidentally straying to Key West, but not in recent
years.
It is a beautiful species, with a bright blue crown, black throat and
stripe through the eye, separated by a white line under the eye. The
rest of the plumage is of a brownish or rusty color. Eggs buffy white.
Size 1.30 × 1.05.
[Illustration 198: Inca Dove. Ground Dove.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 197
[Illustration 199: CALIFORNIA VULTURE.]
Page 198
VULTURES, HAWKS and OWLS. Order XII. RAPTORES
AMERICAN VULTURES. Family CATHARTIDAE
Vultures are peculiarly formed birds of prey, having a bare head and
neck, a lengthened bill strongly hooked at the end for tearing flesh,
and long, strong, broad wings upon which they float in the air for hours
at a time without any visible flapping. They are scavengers and do great
service to mankind by devouring dead animal matter, that, if allowed to
remain, would soon taint the atmosphere. Their eyesight and sense of
smell is very acute. They do not, except in very unusual cases, capture
their prey, but feed upon that which has been killed or died of disease.
324. CALIFORNIA VULTURE. _Gymnogyps californianus._
Range.--Apparently now restricted to the coast ranges of California,
casually inland to Arizona, and formerly to British Columbia.
This large bird, which weighs about 20 pounds, measures about 4 feet in
length, and has an expanse of wings of about 10 feet. Its plumage is
blackish with lengthened lanceolate feathers about the neck, and with
the greater wing coverts broadly tipped with grayish white (in very old
birds). The birds are very rare in their restricted range and are
becoming scarcer each year, owing to their being shot and their nests
robbed. While the eggs are very rarely found and only secured at a great
risk, they are not as unobtainable as many suppose, as may be seen from
the fact that one private collection contains no less than six perfect
specimens of the eggs and as many mounted birds. These birds lay but a
single egg, placing it generally in caves or recesses in the face of
cliffs, hundreds of feet from the ground, and often in inaccessible
locations. The eggs are of an ashy gray color and measure about 4.45 ×
1.55.
[Illustration 200: Ashy gray.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 199
325. TURKEY VULTURE. _Cathartes aura septentrionalis._
Range.--America, from New Jersey on the Atlantic coast, Manitoba and
British Columbia, south to southern South America, wintering in the
southern half of the United States.
The plumage of this small Buzzard (length 30 inches) is blackish brown,
the naked head being red. It is very common in the southern and central
portions of its range, where it frequents the streets and door yards
picking up any refuse that is edible. It is a very graceful bird while
on the wing, and can readily be identified when at a distance from the
fact that, when in flight, the tips of the wings curve upward. The two
eggs which constitute a set are laid upon the ground between large
rocks, in hollow stumps, under logs, or between the branching trunks of
large trees, generally in large woods. They frequently nest in
communities and again, only a single pair may be found in the woods. Its
nesting season ranges from March until June in the different localities.
The eggs are creamy or bluish white, spotted and blotched with shades of
brown, and with fainter markings of lavender. Size 2.70 × 1.85.
326. BLACK VULTURE. _Catharista uruba._
Range.--More southerly than the preceding; north regularly to North
Carolina and southern Illinois, and west to the Rocky Mountains.
This species is about the same size, or slightly smaller than the Turkey
Vulture; its plumage is entirely black as is also the naked head, and
bill. In the South Atlantic and Gulf States, the present species is even
more abundant than the preceding, and might even be said to be partially
domesticated. The nesting habits are the same as those of the Turkey
Buzzard but their eggs average longer and the ground color is pale
greenish or bluish white rather than creamy. They are spotted and
blotched the same. Size 3.00 × 2.00.
[Illustration 201: Creamy white.]
[Illustration: 324--325.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 200
[Illustration 202: Bluish white.
EGG OF BLACK VULTURE.]
[Illustration: NEST AND EGGS OF TURKEY VULTURE.
N. W. Swayne.]
Page 201
KITES, HAWKS AND EAGLES. Family BUTEONIDÆ
The members of this family are chiefly diurnal; they get their living by
preying upon smaller animals or birds. They have strong sharply hooked
bills, powerful legs and feet armed with strong, curved and sharply
pointed talons.
327. SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. _Elanoides forficatus._
Range.--Southern United States; casually north to New York and Manitoba.
This most beautiful Kite can never be mistaken for any other; its whole
head, neck and underparts are snowy white, while the back, wings and
tail are glossy blue black, the wings being very long and the tail long
and deeply forked. The extreme length of the bird is 24 inches. As a
rule nests of this bird are placed high up in the tallest trees; they
are made of sticks, weeds and moss. Two eggs, or rarely three,
constitute a full set. They are white or bluish white, spotted with
brown. The one figured is an unusually handsome marked specimen in the
collection of Mr. C. W. Crandall. Average size of eggs, 1.80 × 1.50.
Data.--Yegna Creek bottoms, Texas, April 27, 1891. Two eggs. Nest of
sticks and green moss, the same moss also being used for lining; in an
elm tree 80 feet up.
328. White-tailed Kite. _Elanus leucurus._
Range.--Southern United States, north to the Carolinas, Illinois and
middle California.
This species can be recognized by its light bluish gray mantle, black
shoulders and white tail. It is a very active species, feeding upon
insects and reptiles, and small birds and mammals. The nests of these
species are placed in trees at quite an elevation from the ground, being
made of sticks, weeds and leaves. The eggs are creamy white, profusely
blotched and spotted with reddish brown and umber. Size 1.65 × 1.25.
Data.--Los Angeles, Cal., April 9, 1896. Nest in fork of willows about
25 feet up. Made of willow twigs and weed stalks, lined with pieces of
bark.
[Illustration 203: Swallow-tailed Kite.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Creamy white.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 202
329. MISSISSIPPI KITE. _Ictinia mississippiensis._
Range.--Southeastern United States, north to South Carolina and
Illinois.
A small species (length 14 inches) with the head, neck, and underparts
gray, and the back, wings and tail blackish, the tips of the secondaries
being grayish. They live almost exclusively upon insects, such as
grasshoppers, and small reptiles. They build their nests of sticks and
weeds well up in tall trees. The eggs are two or three in number and
normally bluish white, unmarked, but occasionally with very faint spots
of pale brown. Size 1.65 × 1.25. Data.--Giddings, Texas, May 31, 1887.
Nest of sticks and weeds, with green pecan leaves in the lining; placed
in the top of a live oak sapling, 20 feet from the ground. Collector, J.
A. Singley.
330. EVERGLADE KITE. _Rostrhamus sociabilis._
Range.--South America, north to southern Florida and Mexico.
This peculiar species has a long, slender, curved bill, blackish
plumage, with white rump and bases of outer tail feather. They feed
largely upon snails, both land and water varieties. They nest at a low
elevation in bushes or under brush, often over the water. The nests are
of sticks, weeds and leaves. The three eggs are light greenish white,
spotted and splashed with chestnut brown. Size, 1.70 × 1.30. Nest in a
custard apple tree, 6 feet from the ground, built of twigs, lined with
small vine stems and willow leaves.
[Illustration 204: White-tailed Kite. Mississippi Kite.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Pale greenish white.]
[Illustration: Everglade Kite.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 203
[Illustration 205: NEST AND EGGS OF MARSH HAWK.]
Page 204
331. MARSH HAWK. _Circus hudsonius._
Range.--Whole of North America, very abundant in all sections.
The adult of this species is very light colored, and young birds of the
first two years have a reddish brown coloration; in both plumages the
species is easily identified by the white patch on the rump. They are,
almost exclusively frequenters of fields and marshes, where they can
most often be seen, towards dusk, swooping in broad curves near the
ground, watching for field mice, which form the larger portion of their
diet. Their nests are made in swampy ground, often in the middle of a
large marsh, being placed on the ground in the centre of a hummock or
clump of grass; it is generally well lined with grasses and often
rushes. They lay from four to seven pale bluish white eggs, generally
unmarked; size 1.80 × 1.40.
332. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. _Accipiter velox._
Range.--Whole of North America, wintering in the United States and
southward; breeds throughout its range, but most abundantly in northern
United States and northward. This is one of the smallest of the hawks
and in the adult plumage is a beautiful species, being barred below with
light brown, and having a bluish slate back. It is a very spirited and
daring bird and is one of the most destructive to small birds and young
chickens. Its nest is a rude and sometimes very frail platform of twigs
and leaves placed against the trunk of the tree at any height, but
averaging, perhaps, fifteen feet. The eggs are bluish white, beautifully
blotched and spotted with shades of brown.
[Illustration 206: (Adult and young). Marsh Hawk.]
[Illustration: Pale bluish white.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Sharp-shinned Hawk.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 205
333. COOPER'S HAWK. _Accipiter cooperi._
Range.--Whole of temperate North America, breeding throughout its range.
Although larger (length 17 inches), the plumage of this species is
almost exactly the same as that of the preceding. Like the last, this is
also a destructive species. They construct their nests in the crotches
of trees, generally at quite a height from the ground; the nest is made
of sticks and twigs, and often lined with pieces of bark; occasionally
an old Hawk's or Crow's nest is used by the birds. Their eggs are bluish
white, unmarked or faintly spotted with pale brown.
334. GOSHAWK. _Astur atricapillus atricapillus._
Range.--Northern North America, south in winter to the northern parts of
the United States.
This species is one of the largest, strongest and most audacious of
American Hawks, frequently carrying off Grouse and poultry, the latter
often in the presence of the owner. It is a handsome species in the
adult plumage, with bluish gray upper parts, and light under parts,
finely vermiculated with grayish and black shafts to the feathers.
Length 23 inches. Their nests are placed well up in the tallest trees,
usually in dense woods, the nests being of sticks lined with weeds and
bark. The three or four eggs are bluish white, generally unmarked, but
occasionally with faint spots of brown. Size 2.30 x 1.70.
[Illustration 207: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Cooper's Hawk.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: American Goshawk.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 206
[Illustration 208: Geo. L. Fordyce.
NEST AND EGGS OF COOPER'S HAWK.]
Page 207
334a. WESTERN GOSHAWK. _Astur atricapillus striatulus._
Range.--Western North America from Alaska to California, breeding
chiefly north of the United States except in some of the higher ranges
of the Pacific coast. This sub-species is darker, both above and below,
than the American Goshawk. Its nesting habits and eggs are precisely the
same. The eggs are quite variable in size.
335. HARRIS'S HAWK. _Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi._
Range.--Mexico and Central America, north to the Mexican border of the
United States; very abundant in southern Texas.
This is a peculiar blackish species, with white rump, and chestnut
shoulders and thighs. It is commonly met with in company with Caracaras,
Turkey Buzzards and Black Vultures, feeding upon carrion. They also feed
to an extent on small mammals and birds. Their nests are made of sticks,
twigs and weeds, and placed in bushes or low trees. The three or four
eggs are laid in April or May. They are dull white in color and
generally unmarked, although often showing traces of pale brown spots.
They are quite variable in size, averaging 2.10 x 1.65.
[Illustration 209: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Harris's Hawk.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 208
337. RED-TAILED HAWK. _Buteo borealis borealis_.
This is one of the handsomest of the larger hawks, and is the best known
in the east, where it is commonly, but wrongly, designated as "hen
hawk", a name, however, which is indiscriminately applied to any bird
that has talons and a hooked beak. The adult of this species is
unmistakable because of its reddish brown tail; young birds are very
frequently confounded with other species. Their food consists chiefly of
small rodents, snakes and lizards, and only occasionally are poultry or
birds taken. They nest in the tallest trees in large patches of woods,
the nests being made of sticks, weeds, leaves and trash. The eggs number
from two to four, and are white, sometimes heavily, and sometimes
sparingly, blotched and spotted with various shades of brown. Size 2.35
x 1.80.
337a. KRIDER'S HAWK. _Buteo borealis krideri_.
Range.--Plains of the United States, north to Manitoba.
This sub-species is described as lighter on the underparts, which are
almost immaculate. Its nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of
the preceding.
337b. WESTERN RED-TAIL. _Buteo borealis calurus_.
Range.--Western North America, chiefly west of the Rocky Mountains.
This sub-species varies from the plumage of the eastern Red-tail, to a
nearly uniform sooty above and below, with the dark red tail crossed by
several bands; it is a generally darker variety than the Red-tail. Its
nesting habits are the same and the eggs show the great variations in
markings that are common to the eastern bird.
[Illustration 210: Red-tailed Hawk.]
[Illustration: Pale bluish white.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 209
337d. HARLAN'S HAWK. _Buteo borealis harlani._
Range.--Gulf States and southward, north to Kansas.
This dark sub-species is generally nearly uniform blackish, but
sometimes is lighter or even white below. Its tail is rusty, mottled
with blackish and white. Its nesting habits are the same and the eggs
are not distinguishable from those of the other Red-tails.
339. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. _Buteo lineatus lineatus._
Range.--North America, east of the Plains and from the southern parts of
the British Provinces southward; abundant and breeding throughout its
range.
This species is smaller than the Red-tailed and is not as powerfully
built; length 19 inches. The adults are handsomely barred beneath with
reddish brown, giving the entire underparts a ruddy color. Like the last
species, they rarely feed upon poultry, confining their diet chiefly to
mice, rats, frogs, reptiles, etc. These Hawks nest in the larger growths
of timber, usually building their nests high above the ground. The nest
is of sticks, and lined with leaves, weeds and pieces of bark. They lay
three or four eggs with a white ground color, variously blotched and
spotted, either sparingly or heavily, with different shades of brown.
Size 2.15 × 1.75. Data.--Kalamazoo, Michigan, April 25, 1898. Nest about
40 feet up in an oak tree; made of sticks and twigs and lined with bark.
Four eggs. Collector, J. C. Holmes.
339a. Florida Red-shouldered Hawk. _Buteo lineatus alleni._
Range.--Florida and the Gulf coast; north to South Carolina. The nesting
habits of this paler sub-species are precisely like those of the last
species.
[Illustration 211: Red-shouldered Hawk.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 210
[Illustration 212: Geo. L. Fordyce.
NEST AND EGGS OF RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.]
Page 211
339b. RED-BELLIED HAWK. _Buteo lineatus elegans._
Range.--Pacific coast from British Columbia south to Lower California,
chiefly west of the Rockies.