Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-13
BIRDS OF PREY.
DIFFERENT SPECIES OF THE AMERI-
CAN HAWK FAMILY.
Not all Chicken Thieves-Some Varieties
Real Friends of the Farmer
Their Fayorite Food.
From the St. Louis Globe-Democrst. ]

From the st. Louis Gl0be-Democrat.1
The sight or sound of the little word
"hawk" usually carries an impression, es-
pecially in the country, of a rapacious
and relentless bird of prey, veritable
pirate of the air The common belief
seems to be that there is no good in it,
and man is justified in taking its life at
every opportunity. So firmly rooted is
this idea that the hawks beak and talons
are instruments only for evil, that Penn
sylvania paid out something like $4,000
in less than two years in bounties for its
head as that of creature whose existence
was a damage to the State. An equally
strong antipathy against it prevails in
other States, although not finding ex-
preston in such substantial form, and
nothing will start farmers boy for
the family gun quicker than to see
hawks graceful sweep over the tops of the
near woods. But this feeling comes from
a lack of acquaintance with the different
varieties of the bird and confounding of
the whole tribe as of the same stripe as
the audacious freebooter who carries away
poultry from the very back door, Despite
their name, there are hawks entitled to
kindly consideration for usefulness and
deserving of credit for the part they play.
To get at the matter more in detail it
may be said at the outset that there are
two classes of hawks. the large and the
small; the first fly slow and the second
fast. Two of the largest species of the
American hawks abound in the Eastern
States. They are the red-tailed and the red
shouldered, about the same in appearance,
but larger. These two kinds are the
regularly dubbed "henhawks," although
not at all as black as painted as their
chief diet is made up of snakes, frogs and
mice. In an official investigation by the
Agricultural Department at Washington
to determine this question, over 1000
hawks nests were examined, and in those
of these two species hardly trace of
poultry or any bird was found. 1t can
hardly be supposed, however, that either
would give chicken the go-by if unable
to find other food 1t is only claimed in
their behalf that frogs and mice are their
favorites.
The rough-legged hawk is another large
species found principally in New England
and the Middle States. He is also fire.
quently called "hen-hawk," and being
ferce-looking fellow with heavy hooked
bill and ugly claws, is shot on sight. But
Notwithstanding his size and strength he
is equipped for no more daring raid than
an attack on defenseless frog or snake,
or the Staying of meadow mice. OF the
last this hawk consumes great number,
while he rarely touches poultry or birds
at all.
The goshawk, or as called in the upper
States of New England, the "blue hen
hawk" is an altogether different kind of
bird, and the better disposed have it to
thank for much of the opprobium they are
called upon to bear. OF slender form, the
goshawk is from 20 to "a inches in length.
1t is blush slate-color above; below, white,
crossed with many zig-zag slate-colored
lines. 1t is bird that loves the woods,
dense pine and spruce woods than any
other hawk. For strength and bravery,
this hawk is not surpassed by any bird of
prey. 1t feeds upon ducks, pigeons, hares,
grouse and poultry. 1t is the type of
true hunting falcon, flying rapidly a few
feet above the ground, and descendig with
a swift rush on the luekless prey detected
by its sharp eyes. 1t is daring to rash
ness, and unlucky is the farmer whose
poultry-yard becomes familiar ground to
one of these hawks. Almost before the
frightened fowls have had time to sound
the alarm, it has selected and seized its
victim. A species in Europe much like it
is used for hunting, and is known as fall
con. The custom is now obsolete.
The duck hawk is also called peregrine
falcon. 1t is not common bird and pre-
fers the banks of streams and seashore to
inland country. 1t is like the goshawk
in being dark blue above with white be-
low, barred with black. 1t is snugger-
built bird than the goshawk, and is
smaller, being only about seventeen inches
long. Unlike most other hawks, it rarely
or ever builds in trees, but places its nest
on lonely and inaccessible lodges in the
mountains or on cliffs by the sea. Though
smaller than the preceding, the duck-hawk
is in no wise inferior to it in proves and
strength of wing 1t attacks any bird that
is not larger than mallard duck
The broad-winged hawk is smaller than
any vet mentioned, but will pass for a
sizeable bird, it measuring about fifteen
inches from tip of bill to end of tail. The
female is the larger by several inches, but
this is a rule among birds of prey. This
hawk prefers snakes, frogs, loads and big
night moths to any other food, having to
be very hungry before they will modest
any form of bird life.
The marsh hawk has broad wings, slim
body and long tail. 1t skins meadows
and fields for mice, squirrels and little
forms of life, with an occasional sparrow
when there is nothing else, but no poultry.
Coming down to the still smaller kinds
the cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks are
the most important. The male cooper's
hawk will measure about IL inches long
and the female twenty. The sharp-shinned
are some FIVE inches under this. But their
size does not debar them from being among
the leaders for speed, courage and daring
Both are Familiarity called chicken
hawks and they are rascals in every
sense. So bold are both kinds that they
take a chicken from the very feet of a
farmer,
The pigeon-hawk is a handsome bird, of
about pigeons size, and is good company
for the two last. 1t is too small to trouble
poultry, except young chickens.
The sparrow-hawk is the smallest and
most abundant, and is a real help to the
farmer, its food being grasshoppers. When
it cannot get these it turns to mice and
small birds. When caught young it is
easily tanned, and becomes a great pet.
The swanson hawk is another that SUBJ
sists almost entirely on grasshoppers. The
swallow-tailed kite, the most graceful of
all hawks, is bird of sunny skies 1t feeds
large upon snakes. When it has seized
one it mounts high in the air, and then, as
it floats in graceful circles, it leisurely de-
yours its prey. This hawk is fond of
wasps' Larvae. and adroitly picks off the
wasps' nests from the branches where sus-
nended.